Low-income couple

Sean and Irene, in their early 40s, are married with two children and live in Co Westmeath.

Sean and Irene, in their early 40s, are married with two children and live in Co Westmeath.

Irene works as a junior health board official in Athlone while Sean, who is ill, cannot work and receives an invalidity pension. Their children attend secondary school. Irene earns £16,000.

While the couple were pleased with the increase in family take-home pay they were disappointed that the £1,000 PAYE allowance was unchanged.

Sean was particularly disappointed since he thought the Minister had the scope to increase the disability allowance. Irene welcomed the increase in the back-to-school allowance.

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The couple will not benefit from the change in tax bands.