Charity Critical Of IMF Recommendation To Means Test Child-Benefit

The International Monetary Fund has suggested means-testing for child benefit payments in an effort to deliver immediate reductions to government spending.

However, children's charity Barnardos have warned that the IMF recommendation could hit struggling working families.

Barnardos Director of Advocacy Norah Gibbons has cautioned against an ''over-quick'' reaction to the proposal made by IMF officials on a visit to Dublin yesterday.

Ms Gibbons said that working families, who are just barely able to meet mortgage payments and other bills at the moment, are the most vulnerable to poverty traps and would be hit hardest by any move to means test the benefit.

She said Barnardos firmly believed in some form of universal child support in recognition of the cost of rearing children.

The Seanad has heard that many papers have been done on child benefit, and it is impossible to tax or means test it as the administration costs are so high.

(H)