Burton: I won’t cut child benefit further

Social Protection Minister Joan Burton is not prepared to make cuts of more than €200m to her budget — less than half of what the troika is demanding.

As the battle lines are drawn ahead of October’s budget, the deputy Labour leader is also adamant there will be no further cuts to child benefit.

The troika has told the Government to cut the social protection budget by €440m — however, sources close to the minister say she is not prepared to go beyond €200m.