Ennis Blogger Claims Means-Tested Child Benefit Would Ignore Families' Financial Situations

An Ennis parenting blogger believes making child benefit means-tested would would not get to the heart of families' financial situations. A newly-published ESRI report states the introduction of a means-tested extra child benefit could take 40,000 children out of poverty at a cost of €700 million. However, Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe has unequivocally ruled out making the payment means-tested, arguing that families on higher incomes also struggle to meet child-related costs due to a higher tax burden. Ennis blogger and founder of Mama's Boobie Box, Petrina O'Halloran, says means-testing simply give the opposition a stick to beat the government with.