Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I understand that cost-of-living measures were introduced in last year's budget. Those were very much appreciated. However, many of them were once-off measures. The forgotten middle class are the people who are paying for everything and availing of practically nothing. It was reported in the Irish Independent last Saturday that 1.1 million of Ireland's full-time workers pay the higher rate of tax. Many of these people are not well-paid. Many are just marginally over the threshold of the 40% tax rate. It is time to give these people much-needed relief as these are the people who often feel forgotten about. Will the Taoiseach introduce significant tax benefits, including a reduction in the hated USC, and a mortgage interest relief scheme to give these people some hope? They are completely disillusioned.

The Taoiseach is right in what he said about the letters people are receiving about their mortgage repayments. The many people who contact my office and those of many Deputies here are afraid to open the letters that come from financial institutions. For some of them, their mortgage repayments have doubled since last July. That is putting an enormous burden on middle-class families. I ask the Taoiseach to look after them in the forthcoming budget.

See this speech in context