Regina Doherty to retain universal children’s allowance

Regina Doherty has ruled out means-tested child benefit and says instead that more supports are needed to help parents with the cost of childcare.

The social protection minister says she is strongly against changing the universal payment to a means-tested subsidy, claiming it would create a “cumbersome” system.

Separately, Ms Doherty has announced the introduction of the Telephone Support Allowance, which will come into force this week. The support is aimed at people who live alone and receive certain other payments from the department — they will get €2.50 per week, or €130 a year.