CHILD CASH REVOLT; Public fury at plan to cut Allowance.

Byline: RORY TEVLIN

THREE quarters of Irish people are against cutting Children's Allowance, a new poll has revealed.

Hot on the heels of the Irish Daily Mirror's Save Our Children's Allowance campaign, the survey shows a massive majority of people are opposed to touching the crucial payment.

The new report reflects the anger of families who bombarded our offices with letters for Taoiseach Brian Cowen. In the survey, 71% said child welfare should not be taxed as the Government looks to plug holes in the public purse.

The figures emerged days after thousands of furious families took part in the Parents Against Child Unfriendly Budget demonstration in Dublin.

More than 13,000 people have signed up to PACUB's online and written petition as anger over Government plans to hit families in their pockets. Almost two thirds of voters polled believe child benefit payments are a special recognition of the role of women as mothers.

OUR The Irish Times TNS mrbi survey was carried out last week from a sample of 1,000 voters in face-to-face interviews in every constituency around the country. Only a fifth of people feel social welfare cuts are the right solution to the country's financial woes.

Although voters were strongly opposed to welfare cuts and taxing of child benefit, 70% of those polled feel the Government should concentrate on cuts in spending.

Supporters of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael were both strong in their support for spending cuts while Labour and Green voters were less enthusiastic.

Sinn Fein voters were the most strongly opposed to spending cuts in the upcoming budget.

Just 14% believe increases are the best way to raise cash and surprisingly, the strongest support for tax increases comes from the well-off AB social group who pay a larger proportion of their wages in tax.

Irish Mirror Comment: Page 10