Sir, - Last year I wrote to you to express our dismay at the 34p a week awarded to all dependent children (including children of social welfare recipients) in the 1998 Budget through the Child Benefit payment.
I am now at a loss whether to congratulate the Minister for his 100 per cent increase to children this year (69p per week) or to give up in despair at this derisory amount allocated to children in the Budget of 1999. This gift to Irish children was announced by the Minister for Finance following his statement that a priority of this Budget was to assist families with dependent children - from September 1999. - Yours, etc., Margot Doherty, Treoir,
Upper Rathmines Road, Dublin 6.