The Minister for Social Protection has stressed the Government’s commitment to maintaining child benefit payments for all children but admits taxing high earners on the allowance is something that “could be worked on”.
Speaking in Limerick yesterday, Joan Burton said a new opinion poll, which suggested there was overwhelming support for the means-testing of child benefit, proved people were open to reform of the system.
The poll in yesterday’s Irish Times shows a substantial majority (71 per cent) in favour of means-testing the payment.
Commenting on the findings, Ms Burton said the poll “correctly” indicated a strong support in Ireland for maintaining a universal payment. She said any reform of the child benefit payment must maintain the incentive to work.
“Another way of approaching it would be to tax higher earners in respect of their child benefit. That’s not possible in terms of our system at the moment, but I think it’s something that can be worked on.”