Louth councillor calls for Revenue office to be open on part time basis

Cllr John Reilly has called for Revenue offices in Dundalk to be opened on a part time basis in Dundalk to aid those less able to use online services.

The Louth councillor claims that not having the Revenue office open on a part time basis in Dundalk “serves as an extreme disadvantage to elderly and vulnerable people who are not computer savvy”.

Cllr Reilly said he recently helped a vulnerable person with the housing adaptation grant for a new accessible bathroom and wet room.

“The current grant system, in my opinion”, claims Cllr Reilly “has far too much bureaucracy. “Elderly and vulnerable people are being asked to submit tax clearance certificates, considering that the Revenue office in Dundalk is no longer open to the public, this in turn, practically frightens vulnerable people who are not computer savvy and makes the system full of unwanted bureaucracy.

“Of course, I can understand the builders or contractors being asked to submit the tax clearance certificate. However, I don’t believe it’s a lot to ask the Revenue offices in Dundalk to open their doors minimum 20 hours so that the public can come in with queries on all their tax issues from PRSI to VAT.

“The current incapacitated grant system requires the applicant to claim back the VAT and subsequently pay the contractor.

“As I have seen from my last three years as a councillor, when someone in the community reaches out for a wet room or necessary alterations to be made to their home, they are already in a vulnerable state.”

Councillor Reilly said he will be writing to the Revenue commissioners to request the office to be open on a part time basis to accommodate members of the public.