It’s ‘like a subsidy for them to have sex’ – anger over comments
By Hayden Moore
FINE GAEL Councillor David McManus has received massive backlash after saying that child benefit payments to high-income families is “like a subsidy for them to have sex”.
While on The Echo’s Local Voices podcast, the Deputy Mayor of South Dublin made the controversial statement while discussing recent issues around the allocation of hot school meals.
Deputy Mayor David McManus
“For me personally, I would say hot meals for schools should be there for all DEIS schools and all disadvantaged schools that need it,” Cllr McManus said.
“I don’t think that it would be proper to say that we’re going to give this to every school in the country because I think when money is scarce, my view is you give it those who most need it.
“It’s like a subsidy for them to have sex,” Cllr @McManusDavid says about Child Benefit payments to high income families, arguing the funds would be better repurposed for hot meals in schools.
— The Echo Newspaper (@TheEchoOnline) May 24, 2021
Watch the full discussion on Local Voices ? https://t.co/7xkDPysIhH pic.twitter.com/Avz5dOQkPn
“As a similar issue, child benefit goes to families all over the country, we’re giving child benefit to families on high wages, people on €100,000 a year.
“It’s like a subsidy for them to have sex.”
Following his comments, Cllr McManus has come under fire from his colleagues and the public across social media.
The representative for Rathfarnham-Templeogue was arguing that the child benefit payment should be means tested and repurposed into areas of society that “most need it”.
On The Echo’s Local Voices podcast
Cllr McManus joined Green Party Cllr Laura Donaghy and Sinn Fein Cllr Dermot Richardson to discuss the Hot School Meals Programme on the podcast.
They were discussing the recent news that Knockmore Junior School was not allocated any provision of meals based off a lottery system despite three other schools in Killinarden getting them.
Cllr Richardson urged Cllr McManus to review his comments, saying he disagreed with what he said and that “there’s people depending on child benefit for the reason of feeding the kids and all that kind of stuff”.
Cllr Donaghy highlighted that the cost of means testing current child benefit model would not be cost efficient and stated she “would not be in favour of something as black and white” as creating a salary threshold.
“If Cllr McManus thinks that child benefit covers the cost of raising a child I think you might want to examine your budgets there,” the Cllr Donaghy stated.
“I don’t think there’s too many families coming out over the net positive after receiving child benefit and that’s making the difference to them.”
Later in the podcast, Cllr McManus re-emphasised that his point was around repurposing funds in that area to make savings for DEIS schools instead.
The Deputy Mayor stated that he would not support people on high income receiving universal payments whatsoever – including the €140 per month child benefit payment.
Since the podcast was published earlier this week, Cllr McManus has doubled down and defended his point across national media.
The episode is available on The Echo Newspaper’s YouTube channel and an audio podcast can be heard on all streaming platforms.
WATCH: the full episode of Local Voices here. The debate on Hot School Lunches is 14 minutes in.
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