Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding possible cuts to child benefit (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43839/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Revised Estimates for my Department provide for expenditure of nearly €2.08 billion on child benefit in 2012 or 10.1% of total expenditure. The Comprehensive Expenditure Report, 2012 – 2014, published last December, provides for additional new expenditure reduction measures of €1,033 million over the next two years in the Department of Social Protection’s budget. This includes €540 million of new savings to be achieved in Budget 2013. Reducing overall expenditure in 2013 and beyond in line with these targets will be very challenging.

The Government will consider the appropriate level of expenditure on child benefit in 2013 in the context of the forthcoming Budget. The outcome will be announced on Budget Day.