Child benefit the fair target

REDUCING child benefit for high income families is by far the most popular cut, if people had a say in how the Government can squeeze €6 billion from the economy next year.

An overwhelming 90% included it in their top two choices for reducing the deficit, if the philosophy of fairness was guiding the upcoming budget.

Increasing college fees, a measure already agreed in the Government’s Four Year Plan, is among the least favoured routes. Instead, the introduction of a property tax was picked ahead of attacks on students or pensioners.