Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)

It is a question of the level of refunds involved. We have devised estimates based on spending patterns identified by the Central Statistics Office, CSO, and the figure relating to unclaimed medical expenses in 2007 was in the region of €500 million, €250 million was unclaimed in rent payments and €300 million in bin charges. Many people, including the elderly, may be uncomfortable with the form involved in making claims. Many credits do not require a return to be filed and can easily be brought up on the system but people may not know how to do this.

Revenue runs very high profile campaigns on television every year relating to P35 forms and Form 11, which relates to income tax returns. There is not a similar campaign when tax credit certificates issue and I ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Cowen, to instruct the Revenue Commissioners to run such a campaign through television and radio media now as tax certificates are issuing.

See this speech in context