SEANAD:THE replacement of Children's Allowance payments with food stamps could be one way of tackling the problem of childhood obesity, Feargal Quinn (Ind) suggested.

Noting that Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald had told the House that 25 per cent of three-year-olds were obese, Mr Quinn said he had no idea things were that bad.

In the United States, allowances were not paid for children. Instead, food stamps were provided, which could not be used to obtain alcohol or tobacco. He wondered if that model could be adopted to ensure, through the laying down of conditions, that children got appropriate nutrition.

“It seems to me that we come across instances every now and then of people who have abused the children’s allowance,” he said.

Opposing any change in this area, David Cullinane (SF) said he did not believe there was rampant abuse of the payments system. A great many parents used it not just for food but for clothing and other essential items.

He pleaded with the Minister not to go down the road being suggested.

Ms Fitzgerald agreed with Mr Cullinane these payments were used for the most part for the provision of essentials.

She believed working with pre-schools and families at risk offered huge opportunities for the improvement of childhood nutrition.