The exchequer could save 50 million euro a year if child benefit was abolished for children of school going age and replaced by a school attendance payment.

That’s the view of Roscommon Independent Deputy Denis Naughton who has submitted his proposal to the Minister of State at the dept of Social Protection.

Earlier this week there was national controversy over a payment of 13.2 million euro in child benefit annually out of this country to children of foreign nationals who have never been in Ireland.

Deputy Naughten told Midwest News today that  a new system could eradicate this problem and in addition could stamp out the level of fraud in the present system.