Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

We are now four weeks from the budget when the Government will attempt to put forward its choices in respect of bringing in €4 billion. These choices are obviously difficult. Owing to choices made in recent budgets we now find ourselves in an unprecedentedly serious situation. In 2008 some 600,000 families received child benefit in respect of 1.1 million children. These families are put to the pin of their collar to manage on a day to day basis and the money received from child benefit has become a central source of income for the vast majority of these families. Last night I understand the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, obviously speaking on behalf of the Government, indicated that it is the intention of Government to cut child benefit in the budget four weeks from tomorrow.

Budgets are about choices as the Taoiseach knows. I want him to understand that the Fine Gael Party has accepted the broad principles of the figures he has mentioned. We have looked at the situation that applies here. I want the Taoiseach to know that it is my choice and our choice that we can achieve the savings that are required, and the reductions and adjustments to be made without touching child benefit. I want to be absolutely clear on that. There are thousands of families now heading towards negative equity and thousands of families where one job is gone or two jobs are gone as the case might be. Hundreds of thousands of such families are under serious financial pressure on a daily basis. Is it the intention of the Government to cut child benefit as proclaimed by the Minister for Social and Family Affairs last night?

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