THE Revenue Commissioners have been asked to reopen all public offices that have been closed since the Covid pandemic because of higher demand for their services due to the recent budget.
The call came from Limerick Fine Gael Senator Maria Byrne who said that Revenue should be notifying the public about their plans to reopen their offices and deal with queries arising out of changes in taxation rates.
Senator Byrne, who is her party’s finance spokesperson in the Seanad, said that PAYE workers will have queries on the proposed changes to tax rules and businesses will also require guidance on the budget measures.
“In-person appointment services are being provided at the Revenue offices in Dublin and Cork, but we need to know if they intend to reopen offices in other counties that have been closed since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Revenue must ensure that there is good coverage geographically for service users in all parts of the country, including my own constituency of Limerick.
“We need a public information campaign as to when people can expect their local office to open, as PAYE customers and businesses that have been in touch with me are still experiencing long waiting times through the ROS phone line,” she explained.
“Other public services and private businesses returned long ago to face-to-face engagement with customers. Revenue must do the same as this is necessary for those who have additional needs, cannot access ROS or would prefer to have their query dealt with in person.
“I raised this matter in the Seanad, with Seanad Leader and colleague Regina Doherty and I wrote to Revenue a number of weeks ago to ask if they would reopen their offices. Disappointingly, no response was forthcoming.
“We need management in Revenue to outline their intentions when it comes to reopening offices. Providing virtual appointments is a welcome development but it should coincide with the resumption of the in person public service,” Senator Byrne added.
