A new income tax band

The squeezed middle

Sir, – The proposal by Tánaiste Leo Varadkar to introduce a new 30 per cent income tax band should be adopted by the Government in the upcoming budget despite some reports of resistance (“Coalition plays down 30 per cent tax proposal”, News, August 16th).

This measure would help a great many react to the rise in the cost of living (particularly the “squeezed middle”) which is expected to continue into the next 12 months and the Government should be prepared to allocate in the region of ¤1 billion to implement the Tánaiste’s suggestion. At any rate, in whatever form it takes, significant income tax cuts across the board should be the main priority in the budget, which would be in line with the wishes of many Fine Gael public representatives, in particular. – Yours, etc,

Cllr JOHN KENNEDY,

(Fine Gael),

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Dún Laoghaire

Rathdown County

Council Office,

Dún Laoghaire,

Co Dublin.