Cut in child benefit would be ‘cruel’

A FEARED slashing of child benefit rates in the budget would amount to “cruelty” and increase poverty, Brian Cowen was last night warned.

The Taoiseach refused opposition demands to declare the payment was safe from cuts as it dominated heated Dáil exchanges.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny insisted he would ring-fence the benefit and find the necessary €4bn worth of savings needed in public spending somewhere else.