Sir, - For the past week I have listened to the Budget being hotly debated. Listening to the various opinions being put forward, one would be forgiven for assuming that there are only two types of family unit in this State: the two working-parents unit, and the one-income-with-a-spouse-working-in-the-home unit. One particular family unit that has not been discussed in this whole debate is the single-parent family. As a single parent who works full time outside the home, and who previously entered the top rate of tax at £14,000, I applaud this Budget. This is the first Budget that has recognised that single parents should not enter the top rate of tax at the same level as single people without dependants.
Now, I have only have one question? Where were all of the individuals who now insist that families must be treated equally under the tax laws when single-parent families were the victims of this particular form of discrimination?
From where I was standing, their silence was deafening. - Yours, etc.,
J. Fitzpatrick, Glenageary, Co Dublin.