Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)

The Minister has cut jobseeker's allowance by €8 and made no increase in the child dependant allowance in social welfare; it remains the same as last year. Child benefit is down by €10 per child for the first and second child. What has the Minister got against third children? In his speech he stated there would be an extra €10 cut from the child benefit of the third child only. The fourth, fifth, 16th or 20th child's payment will not be cut.

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