Sir, - The recent Budget increases on the higher tax band of £1,000 for single-income married couples and £6,000 for dual-income couples now leaves the single-income couple up to £48 a week worse off - a figure which will soon rise to £100 a week if Mr McCreevy has his wilful way.
This is a disastrous vista not only for all single-income couples (estimated at half-a-million people) but also for all dual-income couples who may be reduced to a single income for whatever reason, say -
ill health of husband or wife;
husband or wife losing employment with inadequate salary protection;
a family member requiring full-time care at home.
All such couples may therefore consider it prudent to register their abhorrence of tax individualisation with Mr McCreevy in advance of February's publication of the Finance Bill. - Yours, etc.,
Anne Cahill, Laurel Park, Clondalkin, Dublin 22.