Spend child benefit savings on childcare, TDs told

The head of a Government-appointed advisory group on tax said millions of euro in potential savings from reforms of child benefit payments should be spent on childcare and service supports.

However, it is worrying that half of Ireland’s children were living in households in receipt of social welfare, warned group chairwoman Ita Mangan.

The head of the advisory group on tax and social welfare said 14% of the €20bn department budget would go on child benefit payments this year.