SF slams reported recommendation to tax child benefit
Sinn Féin is criticising the Government following the leaking of recommendations from an expert group which advise that child benefit should be taxed.
The report of the Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare has recommended taxing the allowance or introducing a two-tier system in order to slash €345m per annum of the social welfare bill, according to a report in today's Irish Independent.
The newspaper, which said it has obtained a copy of the report, outlines that a tax at rates of 20 or 41%- would cost families up to €53 of the €130 payment per child per month.
Sinn Fein's Mary-Lou McDonald says families simply can't take the continuous cuts.
"Parents, and mothers in particular, are sick and fed up of child benefit being consistently targeted by this Government," she said.
"The Government ought to know that the child benefit payment is an essential part of most family budgets.
"It is not used for luxuries."
The Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare was established by the Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton in 2011 and is chaired by barrister Ita Mangan.
