Sir, - Mary Canniffe's excellent analysis on the front page and in your Budget supplement of December 6th really highlights the blatant discrimination that now exists against those who care for some of the most vulnerable in our society -the young and the aged.
A single person with no dependants on €40,000 a year is better off in this Budget by €63 a month, while a married person with dependants gets an increase of €29 a month.
Even with the welcome increase in child benefit - which, incidentally, would not even pay for one visit to the doctor - the message from this Government is clear: don't expect your family to care for you; they will not be able to afford it. - Yours, etc.,
Mary Roche, Ballinveiltig, Curraheen, Co Cork. Reaction To Budget 2002