‘Protect children and elderly from IMF’

Groups representing children and the elderly have hit out strongly at IMF recommendations targeting social welfare benefits, medical cards and children’s allowance.

The head of the IMF’s mission to Ireland Craig Beaumont said the measures were costing the country too much and said only the relatively less well off families should be entitled to child benefit. He also called for greater restrictions to be placed on the number of people entitled to medical cards.

Mr Beaumont’s comments echo those of the European Commission which suggested the Government should means test elderly people before giving them the services to which the over-70s are entitled.