Anger over ‘sly’ child benefit cut

Published: Saturday, May 29, 2010

Proposed changes to the welfare system have been condemned as heartless and reprehensible beyond belief

By Justine McCarthy, TimesOnline May 30 2010

ANGER was growing among government backbenchers last night at proposals to cut welfare benefits for single mothers contained in legislation that was slipped out without warning on Friday night.

Under the plans, payments to single mothers will be scrapped when their youngest child reaches 13. Payments are currently made to single mothers until their youngest child reaches 18, or 22 if they are in full-time education.

Mattie McGrath, a Fianna Fail TD for Tipperary South, said: "These are difficult times, and they're even more difficult for single parents. I've put a call in to the minister already.

"This is something we'll have to discuss at a parliamentary party meeting.O'Connor, a Fianna Fail TD for Dublin South West, said: "I'd want the minister to give me assurances that people aren't going to be simply cut off and that certain provisions will be made for those affected. Whatever changes are going to be made, lone parents must not be dropped into a bigger poverty trap.proposal was condemned as heartless and "reprehensible beyond belief" by Jack O'Connor, the president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. It was also criticised by several lobby groups.

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