IMF calls for further cuts to welfare

Social welfare benefits, medical cards, and children’s allowance are costing the country too much and must be cut, the IMF said as it completed its latest inspection of the country’s bailout programme.

The head of the IMF’s mission to Ireland, Craig Beaumont, said only families that are “relatively less well off” should be entitled to child benefit.

The payment of €140 a month per child costs the State 1.3% of GDP, and payments have already been trimmed in recent budgets.