Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)

Does the Minister agree there should be absolutely no reduction in child benefit, particularly in light of significant increases in the burdens on families by means of electricity and gas charges and reductions in gas and electricity allowances in the home care packages? The figure for children in poverty will increase from approximately 90,000 to 130,000. Research from the European Anti-Poverty Network in Ireland indicates that far from being overly generous, the spend on social welfare here is the third lowest in a group of 15 European countries.

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