Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 365: To ask the Minister for Finance the closing time for lunch in the Vehicle Registration Tax Office of the Revenue Commissioners at Furry Park Industrial Estate, Santry, Dublin 9; if the closing time is 12.45 p.m. to 2 p.m.; if so, the reason persons who wish to do business in this office sometimes are refused entry prior to 12.45 p.m., for example, at 12.34 p.m.; if there is a lunchtime cut-off, his views on whether it should be clearly notified and explained; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the implementation of such an unknown cut-off time can greatly inconvenience persons who want to use the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29616/05]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 375: To ask the Minister for Finance the official opening hours of the vehicle registration tax office at Furry Park Industrial Estate, Santry, Dublin 9; and if he will investigate the enclosed complaint (details supplied). [28993/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 365 and 375 together.

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the opening hours of the vehicle registration tax office at Furry Park Industrial Estate, Santry, Dublin 9, are 9 a.m. to 12.45 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday. On the day in question the office closed at 12.30 p.m. in order to allow the four staff on duty time to clear a queue of eight customers waiting for service in the public office. The last customer was dealt with at 1.05 p.m. and the office reopened again at the scheduled time of 2 p.m.

I am assured by the Revenue Commissioners that this was a rare occurrence because the office was particularly busy on 7 October. The Revenue Commissioners apologise to the persons concerned for any upset or inconvenience they experienced due to the early closure of the vehicle registration office on the date in question.

I am also informed that the Revenue Commissioners are considering options for extending the opening hours of vehicle registration offices, including lunch-time opening.