Mixed reaction from Barnardos on today's Budget

Children’s charity Barnardos gave a mixed reaction to today’s Budget praising the Minister for Finance on steps he announced towards ending child poverty, but insisted the reality is that quality of services for children remain inadequate.

Barnardos chief executive Fergus Finlay said: “The €10 increase in child benefit is to be welcomed along with the changes in the Child Dependency Allowance but the fact is the Minister could have gone further to make a real difference to the lives of 100,000 children living in consistent poverty. “