Barnardos claim Government is targeting children in Budget

The chief executive of Barnardos, Fergus Finlay, has said children are bearing the brunt of the age of austerity.

Mr Finlay said the Government is treating children as if they are the cause of the economic crisis, rather than the victims.

He is one of a number of charity figures addressing TDs on the forthcoming budget.

The Barnardos CEO said there is a perception that children are being deliberately targeted.

"Somebody somewhere in charge of public policy regards children as being the cause of the mess we're in," he said.

"Since austerity began, the Govenrment has cut €450m from child income supports - successive governments, but principally the current government."