Minister says no decisions on child benefit for Budget 2013

Published: Monday, October 01, 2012

This article was first published on Newstalk.ie on 1 October 2012

The Minister for Children says no decisions have been made on whether or not to cut child benefit in the December Budget.

It is reported that an advisory group has recommended that the benefit should be reduced by as much as €100 per month per child.

The National Women's Council (NWCI) has called for the report to be published in full.

The Council wants child benefit to remain a universal payment and says it will oppose any further cuts.

Orla O'Connor is Director of the NWCI.

"Proposals to cut child benefit by €40 per month are outrageous" she said.

"Now more than ever low and middle income families are relying on Child Benefit as an essential part of household budgets".

"Child Benefit has been repeatedly cut as a result of austerity and the NWCI in supporting mothers will oppose any further cut to the payment" she added.

Back in July Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said the government would not decide whether to tax child benefit in the Budget until the Cabinet discusses the matter.

While a separate OECD report in 2010 showed that households with young children in Ireland spend on average 41% of their income on childcare.

Minister Frances Fitzgerald says the advisory group report has not been considered by Cabinet.

She says it is simply a recommendation at this stage.