John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this Topical Issues matter. Many issues concerning the property tax have arisen since it was included in the troika agreement three years ago, including in recent times exemptions for unfinished estates. That is not the reason I raise this matter. I raise it on behalf of those who want to pay their property tax and fulfil their responsibility but who are finding obstacles being put in their way. They have heard the warnings from the Revenue Commissioners who claim they will get the money in any case, and by and large these people wish to fulfil their responsibilities.

The first problem is trying to register. Large numbers of people did not receive letters from Revenue. I do not know the reason for that. Perhaps there is no database. I have had many people come to my office and my clinics who have paid their household charge and who, I presume, should have been on a database as a result, yet they still have not received letters. They telephone the lo-call number for Revenue and in some cases are left hanging on for 20 minutes before they get to talk to anybody. When they do get through, they say they wish to pay the tax and ask for a form so they can register because registration will not be done over the telephone. Revenue does not send them the letters and they are then told they can register online. There were six people in my office in Claremorris this morning whom my staff helped to register online. We are glad to do that and glad to help them but it should not be the function of any of our offices to do the work that is supposed to be done by Revenue.

As for the 20 minutes some people are left hanging on, is it the case that there are not enough people on the other end of the line to cope with what is coming their way? The final day for registration by post is next Tuesday, 7 May. Monday is a bank holiday and there will be no lo-call service or anything else for the people making queries. I appeal for the date of registration by post to be extended to the same day as the date for online registration, which is at the end of May. I do not want to see this turning into another SUSI or what happened when medical cards were centralised, but it seems that is how it is developing.

I am aware that homeowners are required to register and pay their taxes but many of those who have not received letters are ignorant of their responsibilities. What has been done to inform people who live abroad and families who have emigrated recently about their responsibility to pay the tax?

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