Outrage if child benefit taxed, warn parents

PARENTS have warned the Government there will be national outrage if child benefit is taxed in December’s Budget.

While Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy has made no decision yet on the move, it is being considered as a way of raising public finances.

In the past, governments have steered clear of taxing the children’s allowance, as it was previously known, but the National Parent’s Council (Post Primary) warned they would not stand for such a drastic measure. Council president Michael O’Regan said it was one of the worst proposals he had heard in his life. “In many homes, the mother is solely dependent on this money for sending children back to school every year,” he said.