The first €34,000 of your income is taxed at a rate of 20 per cent - this is known as the standard rate tax band.

The balance is subject to tax at a rate of 41 per cent. The standard rate band for single parents is €38,000, while married couples where just one partner is earning, pay only the standard rate on income of up to €43,000.

If one partner in a dual-income married couple earns more than €34,000 and their partner earns less than this amount, he or she can take part of the partner's unused standard rate tax band so that he/she earns up to €43,000 before paying the higher rate.

Employees are charged Pay-Related Social Insurance (PRSI) at a rate of 4 per cent, with self-employed people paying 3 per cent.

Once workers earn more than €480 a week, they are charged a 2 per cent health levy, although there are exceptions. There is an extra 0.5 per cent health levy on earnings above €1,925 a week. Employees do not pay PRSI on earnings above the €48,800 PRSI ceiling.

A single person receives a personal tax credit of €1,760. This credit is €3,520 (double) for a married couple and is split between them or allocated to the higher earner. The one-parent family tax credit and the PAYE tax credit are also worth €1,760.

A €770 home carer's tax credit is available to married couples where one partner stays at home to care for a child, incapacitated person or a someone aged 65 and over.

Child benefit payments increase every April. The current rate is €160 a month for the first and second child and €195 for the third and any subsequent children.

The State pension (for PRSI contributors) is worth a maximum of €209.30 a week, while the means-tested non-contributory pension currently has a top rate of €200.

The carer's benefit is €163.70 a week for people leaving work to care for one person.

The family income supplement (IS) is a minimum of €20 a week.

Jobcentres benefit and assistance is €148.80 a week.