CIARA IS a single parent living in rented accommodation in Limerick with her son, aged two.
She is a part-time hairdresser and earns €25,000 per year. She also qualifies for the family income supplement (FIS).
Ciara was disappointed to hear that the Minister has now restricted the early childcare supplement to children under five-and-a-half years old.
Ciara hopes to purchase an apartment shortly and has placed her name on the Affordable Housing Scheme list.
Her parents will help her with the deposit required if she is successful in her application and she hopes to obtain a mortgage from her local authority.
Ciara was interested to hear about the proposed increase in the maximum loan available under the local authority mortgage scheme and she hopes she will qualify for one of these mortgages.
Ciara had hoped that there would have been an increase in her personal tax credits, including the one-parent family tax credit this year.
As a result of the Budget, Ciara is better off by €5 per month.