Colm and Sandra live in Wicklow with their three children. Colm works in a local factory and earns €31,000 a year, while Sandra remains at home to care for their children.

They currently rent the family home. They are struggling to make ends meet; however, they are hopeful that the Minister will reduce the tax burden on low earners so that they will fall outside the tax net next year.

They are also hoping for an increase in child benefit, which currently gives the family a much-needed monthly income of €131.60 each for the first and second children and €165.30 for their third child.