Tax individualisation was ‘a costly mistake’

It was good to read Victoria White’s article challenging us as a society to look again at the fallacy of Charlie McCreevy’s tax individualisation policy (Opinion, Aug 22).

Tax individualisation fuelled the property bubble, pushing the cost of housing through the roof and trapped families into needing two incomes to get on the property ladder. This in turn created the latch-key kids generation as both mothers and fathers were forced to go out to work, while providing good care for babies and young children became a nightmare for concerned parents.

The family has suffered greatly as a result and many broke down altogether under the strain, to the detriment of the common good.