The Minister for Children says she'd prefer the introduction of subsidised childcare services over direct child benefit payments. 

In an interview with the Irish Times, Frances Fitzgerald said 10 per cent of all welfare payments go towards child benefit - and that Irish children would be better served by universal childcare.

Minister Fitzgerald said she realised the impact cutting the 2 billion in payments would have an impact on Irish families - but argued that subsidised services would see 'children do better, stay in school and benefit from schooling.'