A local Green Party Councillor feels people on lower incomes should be the priority in next month's Budget.
It's understood the Government is set to row back on a proposal to introduce a new 30% tax rate for middle-income earners.
It had been suggested that the Government may try to create the new tax band to help the so-called 'squeezed middle' but it's believed the plans have now been shelved.
There are also suggestions today that the Government may also not proceed with increases to social welfare payments as inflation is expected to significantly increase in the winter.
However, Athlone Councillor Louise Heavin feels it would be more important to address the housing and cost of living crisis next month for low-income families:
"People are living in overcrowded accommodation, I'm dealing with numerous homeless families at the moment. I think we need to support those people first and I think middle income earners would agree when they know people are struggling at the end of the week to buy food for themselves.
They are saying I have enough money for rent but I'm actually struggling to pay for food or heating, for baby equipment, that's the people we need to tackle with this.
