MY BUDGET

Married with kids: Mr George Murphy does not hold out much hope that the tax bands relating to his and his wife's income will be changed in the Budget to increase their take-home pay.

Mr Murphy, a Dublin-based civil servant, says he is most anxious to see Mr McCreevy introduce measures that will give his three children, aged 18, 22, and 24, a better start in life.

"At the moment with the way house prices have gone young kids have virtually no chance of getting a house, even if they are applying for a loan with their partner.

"I'd like to see something, anything, done to help them get onto the property ladder.

"My son is doing a PLC course at the moment. We get the children's allowance for him while he is on the course but he doesn't seem to be entitled to any other grant. It means he has to take a part-time job at weekends. It's not ideal."

Mr Murphy is a non-smoker but drinks socially. He says his local pub has already increased the price of a pint. He says he has no doubt both alcohol and cigarettes will be hit again in the Budget.

See if Mr Murphy gets what he wants on Wednesday in The Budget 2004, a special supplement with The Irish Times.