Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Independent)
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48. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider including amendments (details supplied) on Committee Stage of the Finance Bill 2013 or by way of new amending legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48429/13]

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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56. To ask the Minister for Finance if an amendment will be included in the Finance Bill to permit the category of physiotherapy, in the context of self-referrals without the need for a prior medical consultation, as an allowable health expense under the Revenue Med 1 scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48572/13]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 56 together.

I have considered this matter carefully and I have decided at this time, not to extend the parameters of the scheme to include self-referral for physiotherapy.

General practitioners act as an access and control point for the scheme of tax relief on health expenses, as all such expenses must be incurred on the advice or referral of a general practitioner. If physiotherapy was allowed without the need for the treatment to be prescribed by a practitioner, it would inevitably lead to calls for other treatments to similarly qualify for relief, which could greatly increase the overall cost of the scheme. Given the difficult fiscal environment, I am not predisposed to such a potential cost increase.