Use child benefit savings to help struggling families, say rights groups

Children’s rights groups have insisted that any savings made from further cuts to child benefit payments must be ring-fenced for redistribution to struggling families to reduce the number of children at risk of poverty.

Recommendations for reforms to child benefit are due to be brought before the Cabinet today by Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton, with an expert report on the issue expected to be published tomorrow.

It is understood the report proposes retention of the existing system of a universal payment to all families, but with the creation of a two-tier system which would see the current rate reduced and top-up payments to lower-income parents.