Proposed Child Benefit cuts "attack on the vulnerable" - Smyth

The proposed cuts to the Child Benefit scheme have been slammed by a Co Cavan councillor as an "attack on the vulnerable". This week, it has been reported that Child Benefit could be cut to €100 per child per month with top-ups for low income families, if recommendations to Social Protection Minister Joan Burton are enacted. However, Fianna Fail councillor and secondary school teacher Niamh Smyth says that worried parents are telling her that the move is "like taking nappies and food off their children". "I am meeting a lot of worried parents and it just looks like they [the Government] are going after the vulnerable," said the Fianna Fail councillor. "It had been suggested to me by some that you would wonder if this would happen if there were more women in the Dáil.. "There has to be a better way of doing things, as we know things are going to be painful but this, again, is just going after the vulnerable, who desperately need that money for the bare essentials instead of going after the high-earning who are collecting the Child Benefit payment but don't need it. "It's an attack on the vulnerable - I would be very concerned about this coming through," she said. Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald has said that no decision has been made on the report, which is one of many received by the department as it looks to makes cuts in the face of the upcoming Budget. An internal advisory group in the minister's department has suggested a move away from the universal nature of the payment whereby all families get the same amount regardless of income. The group proposes a flat rate of €100 a month per child, with low income families getting a top-up. Minister Fitzgerald said: "The particular report referred to hasn't been before Cabinet yet, no decisions have been taken. "We obviously have a very difficult budgetary situation, but absolutely no decisions have been taken, such as have been reported. "My own view is that Child Benefit is critical for families, it protects against child poverty, it helps with childcare costs, many families are struggling. "My view is that it is extremely important for families." Child benefit payment is €140 per for each of the first two children, the third child is €148 and for the fourth and subsequent children is €160. It has been reported that the cuts could save €200 million a year. According to figures from the Department of Social Protection, in Cavan in 2011 there were 9,971 people in receipt of Child Benefit for 19,741 child payments. Monaghan had 15,441 Child Benefit payments for children paid to 7,797 parents for the same year.