Cutting child benefit should ‘always be a last resort’

NO matter how dire Ireland’s economic situation has become, taking money from children should always be a last resort, five groups representing parents and children insisted yesterday.

The National Women’s Council, the Children’s Rights Alliance, One Family, OPEN and the Protest Against a Child Unfriendly Budget (PACUB) warned that a reduction in child benefit would have a serious negative impact on families throughout the country.

PACUB spokeswoman Treasa Dovander said child benefit was the only remaining state support given to all families as a contribution towards the costs of rearing children.