MY BUDGET: CONSULTANT:UNEMPLOYED BUSINESS consultant Bernadette Bradley was shocked at the increased income levies, but relieved that her social welfare payments have not been slashed.

Bradley (35), from Dublin, has been unemployed since losing her job at a management accountancy firm in December, and admits she was worried about the new Budget.

“I was a bit relieved when they started talking about reducing the allowance that they limited it to under-20s,” she said, referring to the dole being cut in half to €100 for claimants under 20.

However, she believes targeting that age group was sensible. “A lot of those people are at home anyway, and it is a lot of money each week for a 19-year-old.”

She thought the income levy being doubled to 2, 4 and 6 per cent was shocking. “That is a huge increase, especially for middle earners, and it is going to be a lot to pay. “It is more tax, tax, tax at the moment until we are crippled,” she added.

She expressed interest in the announcement of further education schemes for the unemployed. “Those programmes would be something that I would be interested in. I was doing a history degree while I worked but could not afford to keep doing it.”

She said losing her job has made her want to upskill and improve her career prospects. “I was unemployed once when I was younger but that was only for two weeks, and this time it was really scary as I could not get work . . . I have even considered starting my own business to become self-employed.”

She said she was also concerned about the reduction of the rent supplement scheme.