Naughten calls for action on '€135m child benefit scam'

There are renewed calls for the Government to tackle a multi-million euro child benefit scam, by replacing the payment with a school attendance allowance.

Independent TD Denis Naughten claims that 1,500 children registered in primary schools in Ireland never make it to secondary school, and he says many of them do not exist.

He says the scam could cost the state up to €135m and the Departments of Education and Social Protection need a more joined-up approach to tackle the issue.