“Today is the first payday of the year for many people in Dún Laoghaire and it will be the first chance to feel the effect of changes made in Budget 2015 which will give money back” says Mitchell O’Connor TD, for Dún Laoghaire.

“On Budget day we reduced income tax bands and USC rates, and although we knew it was good news, it’s not until the changes come into effect and the first month’s pay comes into bank accounts, that the true effect can be seen.

“A worker on the average industrial wage of about €35,000 gets €396 back and a family of two earners with two children, bringing in €60,000 gets back €469. Households will see a small increase in their monthly income as a result of these changes and this will, in turn, have a positive impact on the local economy here in Dún Laoghaire.

“This is only a first step in making our tax system fairer and better for job creation. We want to deliver similar tax cuts in 2016 and again the following year if re-elected.  Both Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin voted against these tax reductions.

“It is important that we begin to see the benefit of the economic recovery in all parts of the country, including here in Dún Laoghaire. The Government is focussed on creating jobs in all areas and I expect with the launch of the Regional Enterprise Strategy in the coming weeks, that we will see positive change in Dún Laoghaire.”