PAUL AND CLAIRE are in their early 40s and live in Co Wicklow with their two children, aged seven and nine.
Paul works as a laboratory technician and earns an annual salary of €45,000. He makes pension/AVC contributions of €240 a month. Paul's employer pays his annual family health insurance of €2,300 and his gym subscription of €500.
Claire works as an office administrator and earns €28,000.
As their after-school childcare costs are €500 a month, Claire and Paul are disappointed that the Minister did not introduce relief to reduce childcare costs. Claire will now have to consider a reduction in her working hours to care for their two children after school hours.
Paul and Claire are paying tax at the higher rate. While they are happy that the Minister did not increase the higher rate of tax, they are disappointed at the introduction of the income levy.
As their children grow older, Paul and Claire had hoped to move to a bigger house. As a result, they are unhappy at the reduction in mortgage interest relief available to non-first-time buyers.
In net cash terms, Paul and Claire will be worse off by €26 per month.