Proposed changes to child benefit payments to be put forward by the Tánaiste

Coinciding with pre-election Budget talks which began this week, it has been suggested that parents should expect to receive a small increase in their child benefit payment later this year.

According to reports this morning, the Tánaiste, Joan Burton, intends to push for an increase of €5 per month resulting in a yearly increase of €60.

Recalling the Government’s decision to increase child benefit last year, Ms. Burton has asserted she now intends to mimic the move, saying: “We the government increased child benefit last year by €5, and we are aiming to do something similar this year.”

Despite advising that the proposal will only go into operation should Government funding allow, Ms. Burton said, while speaking to The Irish Times, that the proposed change will “apply equally to people in and out of work, so it doesn’t impact on the attractiveness of work.”
 

Explaining the motivation behind her recent proposal, she went on to say: “It allows families choices in relation to whether or not some of it would be used for the general cost of children or for paid childcare. I’m anxious to improve it again.”

The Tánaiste’s assertions coincide with the controversial introduction of a revised lone parent welfare payment which will take effect on Wednesday July 1^st  this year.