Calls for scrappage of child benefit system
There are calls for child benefit to be scrapped and a new system introduced instead.
Independent Roscommon South Leitrim TD Denis Naughten said he believes a new benefit should be created which is tied into school attendance.
The former Fine Gael politician said it would save the taxpayer money without penalising parents who already qualify for the payment.
"What I'm proposing is that we would abolish child benefit for school going aged children and replace it instead with the school attendance payment which would continue to be paid during the summer months for children who are in school during the year," he said.
"What it would do is it would save approximately €100m and €130m per annum in the child benefit system without directly impacting on the payment to parents."
