Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I also rise to call for a debate on the reform of the leaving certificate. I was education spokesperson in the previous Seanad and have a keen interest in the area. I support Senator Malcolm Byrne's call.

The main reason I rise is to raise a matter relating to the Revenue Commissioners. I have been inundated with calls from people who cannot get through to Revenue. There is a helpline open. Revenue closed its offices to the public at the start of the pandemic in March 2020 and its offices are still not open for in-person meetings. Every other public and private sector organisation is open. It is fine going online but it is not everybody's cup of tea to manage their affairs online. Some people find that if they have a technical issue, they are not able to resolve it through the online service.

I visited the office of the Revenue Commissioners in Dublin today. I visited the office in Limerick on Friday. Neither of the offices was open. Revenue is taking calls in the morning but trying to get an appointment online or a place in the queue is very difficult. It is a difficult situation. It is not easy for older people or for people in general. I am looking for the support of this House. We should write to Revenue and call on it to go back to in-person meetings. This has happened in every other private and public sector organisation. It is time for Revenue to reopen its doors.