Ahern queries tax cuts

A MARRIED man with one child on a wage of £167.50 a week will be £10 worse off if his employer gives him a £20 a week increase, figures issued by the Minister for Finance, Mr Quinn, have confirmed. The figures showed that after tax his wage would be £177.26 on the increased wage compared to £163.56 but once benefits were affected, such as rent subsidy and medical card, he would end up with £201.36 compared to £211.38 in total benefits on his original wage. Mr Quinn was giving a written reply to Mr Noel Ahern (FF, Dublin North West) who asked about the tax status of an individual on the £167.50 weekly wage with a £174 a week tax free allowance.