Social Protection Minister says she will not introduce means testing child benefit

The Social Protection Minister has responded to comments made last week.

Regina Doherty’s words at an event on Friday suggested that she would be looking into cutting children’s allowance for household’s earning over €100,000. The minister indicated that she would get her officials to conduct a report into whether households earning more than €100K a year should receive child benefit. However, in her most recent interview with Seán O’Rourke on RTÉ Radio 1, she said that she would not cut child benefit, and spoke of her support for the payment scheme.

Minister @ReginaDo has ruled out means testing the child benefit payment. She told Richard Curran such a process would be cumbersome and that the focus for the Government is the childcare subsidy, along with free education, free healthcare and parental leave. #TodaySOR pic.twitter.com/yO3sUnSrg5

— Today Sean O'Rourke (@TodaySOR) June 5, 2018

Doherty also said that she would not introduce means testing, calling such a task ‘cumbersome’.

“One of the biggest issues with regard to employment, particularly for women in this country, is the lack of subsidies in childcare,” the minister said. “I strongly believe in the principle that we should treat all the children in the country equally and that’s why I believe in the universal payment of child benefit.”

"No, no I'm not" @ReginaDo tells Richard Curran when asked if she is open to means testing Child Benefit #TodaySOR

— Today Sean O'Rourke (@TodaySOR) June 5, 2018

Speaking at that same event on Friday, head of education and social policy at Ibec, Tony Donohoe suggested the minister should means-test children’s allowance.

“Childcare is talked about a lot, but is very expensive and has to be paid for - €330million goes to households where the income is over €100,000 a year,” he said.