Ray and Fiona are retired, in their 70s and living in Dublin. Ray has an occupational pension of €30,000 and receives dividends of €8,000 per annum.

Fiona is in receipt of an occupational pension of €8,000 per annum.

As Ray and Fiona's family have all moved out of home they are thinking of downsizing and moving back to Ray's hometown in Co Cavan.

They have seen a second-hand house that they like on the market for €300,000. At its size and price level they would incur a 5 per cent stamp duty cost.

They are hoping that in this year's Budget the Minister will remove stamp duty on the purchase of all types of residential properties for non first-time buyer owner occupiers buying homes costing less than €320,000.

Ray and Fiona intend to place the equity released from the sale of their current home on deposit in case they need to pay for nursing care in the future.

They would also like to see an increase in the Social Welfare Old Age pension rates and hope that the Minister will continue the trend set in recent years.