Zero VAT on children’s shoes not passed on

PARENTS are being ripped off by shops and manufacturers who are charging more for children’s shoes despite a zero VAT rate.

The European Commission wants the Government to introduce VAT on children's clothing and footwear and says they can return the money to needy families.

But Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy has pledged to fight any attempt to put 21% VAT on children's wear. The issue brought down John Bruton's Fine Gael government in 1982 and no government has dared to approach the issue since. But the figures show that even women's shoes are cheaper in Ireland than footwear for infants and children, even though the full VAT rate applies to adults shoes.