Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will move on to the issue of PAYE overpayment and allowances not being claimed in 2023. There have been reports that approximately 300,000 workers have not claimed full tax rebates. It is estimated that approximately €200 million was refunded to taxpayers but there could be as much as €450 million or €500 million still due to PAYE workers. Much of it hinges around PAYE workers claiming the rent credit or for medical expenses. This year, there will be mortgage interest relief. There are three big pieces there. There may be others. I am trying to find out what is going on with this. It is obvious that Revenue took in very healthy sums of money last year. That is all to the good because it is available for public services, capital works and so on. With regard to what is due back to taxpayers, however, it does not seem that the rent credit is being picked up. Are there figures in that regard? Is it not time for a serious campaign in respect of those three issues, namely, the rent credit, medical expenses and mortgage interest relief? Has there not been a failure in communicating to the public that a tax rebate is already available on the rent credit and medical expenses and that people are either not claiming them or not claiming them properly? With mortgage interest relief coming in, there is another layer on top of that. That relief will be welcome for many people who are in extreme difficulty with their mortgage repayments and high mortgage interest rates. If the public are not aware of it or not accessing it, however, what is happening there?