Child benefit reform proposal rejected, Naughten claims

Independent TD Denis Naughten said his proposals to save €100m a year by replacing child benefit payments with school attendance payments have been dismissed because the Department of Social Protection is being territorial.

Deputy Naughten said his proposals would put an end to incorrect payments, as well as truancy.

He claimed the Department of Social Protection has dismissed them because of a lack of joined-up thinking in Government.

"I've given details of the proposals to Minister Joan Burton," he said.

"The response has been that the Department has dismissed it, I believe, on the basis that what would happen is that the control in relation to the spending of this money would transfer from the Department of Social Protection to the Department of Education."