‘No Budget decision on pensioners’

Minister for Children Francis Fitzgerald has said the Government has made no decision on broadening taxes for pensioners or reducing child benefit.

She said the Cabinet wanted to produce a “fair budget” following reports that cuts will be made to subsidies for household bills for the elderly and that their taxes could be increased.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan had flagged widening the tax base for pensioners in last year’s budget, while Social Protection Minister Joan Burton has pointed to significant amounts being paid for electricity and television licence subsidies for households.