'No more child benefit cuts', Gilmore tells Labour

Tánaiste Eamonn Gilmore has reportedly told his Labour Party colleagues that the government will make no further cuts to child benefit.

According to the Sunday Times, Mr Gilmore’s comments came on foot of his Labour cabinet colleague Ruairí Quinn’s suggestion that a cut to child benefit could fund a second free pre-school year.

The Education Minister said this week that €2bn is spent on child benefit payments every year - and he, along with the the Children's Minister and the Minister for Social Protection, were examining how best to spend that money, and that extending the pre-school education scheme could be one option.

However, it is understood Mr Gilmore said that the Government will not be imposing any further reductions to the €130 monthly payment.