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 lab technician and earns a salary of €45,000. He makes pension/AVC contributions of €240 a month. His employer pays his annual health insurance of €2,300 and gym subscription of €500. Claire works as an office administrator and earns €28,000.

As their after-school childcare costs are €500 a month, they are disappointed the Minister did not introduce any measures to reduce their childcare costs but that the level of childcare benefits has been reduced and these benefits could be means tested and/or taxed in the budget next year.

Claire will now have to consider a reduction in her working hours to care for their children after school.

As they are paying tax at the higher rate, they are relieved the Minister did not increase this rate or introduce a third bracket. However they are disappointed the income levy and health levy rates will double.

As their children grow older, Paul and Claire would like to move to a bigger house. As a result, they are disappointed that mortgage interest relief has been abolished for those who are not first-time buyers.

They are relieved the Minister did not “standard-rate” all allowances.

As a result of the Budget, Paul and Claire are worse off by €185 a month.