SIPTU has called for substantial improvements in tax allowances and child benefit and welfare payments in next week's Budget. Ms Rosheen Callender, an economist and senior researcher with the union, said the Government should "devote almost all the resources available for tax cuts to dramatically increasing people's personal tax-free allowances".
She said that if personal tax free allowances were increased by £1,000 per annum, it would ensure that no PAYE worker paid tax on less than £90 per week. The move would cost £308 million in the first year and £525 million in a full year, she said.