Companies that hire people could soon receive some tax relief according to the Health Minster.

Yesterday Minister Walter Roban told the House of Assembly the National Office for Seniors and Physically Challenged has been tasked with exploring options for employment tax relief for companies that hire disabled people The National Office, which was created in 2001, and has been under the remit of both the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Culture since then, has been streamlined in the last year Mr. Roban said. Its aim is to ensure seniors and those with disabilities can live a meaningful and productive life within the community.

"During the past nine months it has undergone a transformation to assist vulnerable persons in our community," he said.

"Collaborative relationships have been formed with key stakeholders including: Age Concern, Meals on Wheels, clinical social workers at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, Department of Health Community Nursing, Environmental Health, Mid Atlantic Wellness Institute, Department of Planning and the Department of Financial Assistance." Changes in staffing have also helped streamline the office, he said, including the secondment of a nurse case manager and hiring a permanent intake worker. The office itself has been updated and is awaiting a wheelchair ramp.

Looking forward Mr. Roban said the it will facilitate the creation of a sports plan that assists persons with disabilities to have opportunities to participate in local and international sporting events, improve the monitoring of residential care facilities and work with the Department of Planning to adopt international standards for accessible building.

The Minister added: "Explore employment tax relief for companies that hire persons with disabilities." The Minister added that under a PLP Government seniors had received homestead tax relief, vehicle registration tax relief and two thirds are now eligible for the comprehensive FutureCare health insurance plan. All senior will be eligible for FutureCare by April 2011.