‘Most child benefit savings achieved’

Child benefit savings recommended by an expert group report have already been largely achieved by the Government, Social Protection Minister Joan Burton has insisted.

The comments indicate she is likely to resist large-scale cuts to the payment by either taxing the allowance or replacing it with a two-tier system with greater payments for poorer families.

The advisory group report, published yesterday, recommends reducing the standard rate of children’s allowance from €130 to €110 a month.