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Budget 2013: Government denies child benefit to be slashed by €40 a month – The Budget, National News – Independent.ie
The Government has denied any decision has been taken to slash child benefit by €40 a month.
Anti-poverty group Social Justice Ireland warned today that the advice to the Government to cut child benefit were unjust, unnecessary and unacceptable.
However, Children’s Minister Frances Fitzgerald dismissed speculation that the cuts were a done deal.
She insisted no decisions on child benefit had been made and that discussions in Cabinet were ongoing.
A special advisory group appointed by Social Protection Minister Joan Burton recommended the cuts, which could save the department €200m a year.
A department spokesman said the minister was currently considering a report from the group.
“The aim of establishing this group was to harness expert opinion and experience in order to address a number of specific issues and make cost-effective proposals for improving employment incentives and achieving better poverty outcomes, particularly child poverty outcomes,” he added.
Sean Healy, director of Social Justice, an independent non-Government organisation, said there were many alternatives to slashing the benefits, such as targeting the wealthy and investing in
