Home -> Parent Info -> Childcare in the News Hanafin indicates child benefit changes Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin has indicated that three different levels of child benefit payments may be introduced. Speaking on RTÉ's The Frontline programme, Ms Hanafin said she accepted that social welfare payments would have to be reduced in next month's Budget, but she was trying to find savings without imposing too much hardship on people. The Minister said people on social welfare and on low incomes were identifiable and they would look to the Revenue Commissioners to identify higher income earners. She said that she did not believe a woman should lose child benefit completely, but the Government needed to be fair in how it was distributed. Child benefit currently costs €2.5bn. She said it would not mean that every mother would get the same amount of money and she did not believe a woman should be penalised because of her husband's income. Asked about assessing eligibility for child benefit, Ms Hanafin said a full tax and means testing of everyone would not be possible. However, she went on to say that if you took a high income group you would be dealing with a very limited group and could do it for them. Finlay urges Govt to leave child benefit alone Barnardos' Chief Executive Fergus Finlay has said child benefit should be left untouched in December's Budget. Fergus Finlay said that the payment is vital to some families and has been a huge contributor to reducing child poverty. Mr Finlay said: 'When Barnardos presented at the Minister for Social and Family Affairs' pre-Budget forum in October we argued that a straight cut across the board to Child Benefit would be inequitable, unfair and disproportionate as the poor would suffer most. 'We urged the Government to exclude those on social welfare and in receipt of Family Income Supplement from any cuts to Child Benefit. 'We are pleased at indications that Minister Hanafin has listened but remain concerned that it will be an uphill battle to protect children living in poverty ahead of the Budget from Cabinet cuts.' 'Barnardos is concerned that the 2007 child poverty figures have risen over the past two years as recession deepens and we urge Government not to become complacent about measures to reduce child poverty. Mr Finlay said that Ms Hanafin has a tough battle ahead in trying to protect child benefit, but he said his charity would continue to lobby the whole Cabinet to protect the most vulnerable children.
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Childcare in the News - 10th November 2009