Burton: Change to child benefit 'would take time'

Proposals to tax child benefit will not be implemented in the upcoming Budget, Social Protection Minister Joan Burton has said.

Minister Burton said that it could take several years before the Government can introduce a tax on children's allowance payments for people who earn more than €100,000.

It is because of the different computer systems in the Revenue and the Department of Social Protection.

Minister Burton said that she favours taxing the payment among wealthy parents.

However, speaking at the MacGill Summer School in Glenties last night, Minister Burton said it will not happen before December's Budget.

"You would have to have, like in the UK, if you changed systems, any change in social welfare and tax systems generally takes time to work in and to work through," she said.

"We can actually change the tax system further, but it takes time, and obviously, as I say, it is not in the context of this Budget."