Child benefit could be impacted if a plan in a leaked document is to be passed.
The draft programme includes a clause that would change the way school attendance is monitored and would result in changes to child benefit.
The clause says it would “address the poor attendance within some families”.
The plans have drawn comparisons to other policies with the Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy branding it “a direct copy from the heartless policies of the British Tories.
And this isn’t the first time we’ve seen plans like this suggested.
The last newly appointed minister for communications, climate change and natural resources Denis Naughten proposed the same idea of numerous occasions.
The South Leitrim TD said that the plan had the potential to save the country roughly €100 million per year.
However, in 2013 the proposal was rejected as it was feared it might go against EU regulations.
The Anti-Austerity Alliance have been very clear in their position saying “punishing parents and families by cutting child benefit is not the answer to poor school attendance.”
Sinn Féin have also criticised the idea saying they have “serious misgiving” about the plan.
As the draft programme has yet to be officially published the Department of Social Protection have yet to make comment.
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