A married worker in Northern Ireland fares better than his or her counterpart in the Republic in relation to personal taxation on incomes over £30,000.

This was revealed to the Fine Gael TD, Mr Jim Mitchell, in a written reply to a Dail question by, the Minister for Finance, Mr Quinn, yesterday.

After the deduction of all income tax, PRSI and levies, a married worker with just one spouse working and three children would fare as follows on an income of, £20,000, the take home pay in the Republic would be £14,926, compared to £14,736 in Northern Ireland. With an income of £25,000, the take home pay would be £18,291 and £18,239 respectively. On £30,000 the take home pay would be £20,745 and £21,785; on £40,000 the take home pay would be £25,677 and £27,785; and on £50,000 the take home pay would be £30,627 in the Republic and £33,785 in the North.