Ms Caroline Fahey:

Our position in the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is that we are supportive of a payment to all families with children supplemented with extra targeted payments for those on the lowest incomes. Ms Audry Deane spoke briefly about the poverty trap associated with rent supplement. Deputy Butler raised the issue of people working 19 or 20 hours but not wanting to work beyond that number of hours because they would start to lose benefits. We do not defend the payment of child benefit to the wealthy who do not need it. We defend the payment of it to those in low or middle income jobs who are concerned that they would lose the benefit if they earned a little bit extra. A great aspect of child benefit payment is that it supports people regardless of their employment status. We do not want to build another poverty or unemployment trap into the system.