Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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151. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to close the local Revenue Commissioners inquiry office in Dundalk to walk-in inquiries by members of the public. [23192/17]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by Revenue that it operates an appointment service at the Dundalk office to members of the public.  

Enhanced online and telephone services has resulted in a reduced demand for the traditional 'walk-in' services to public offices.  The number of personal callers fell by 64% since 2008. I am advised by Revenue that taxpayers are choosing different channels to 'walk-in' services and are getting the information and assistance they require in a way that better meets their needs.

In this regard, Revenue introduced an appointments service in a number of public offices in 2015 and 2016, including Dundalk from December 2016.  The provision of an appointments service at the Dundalk office provides a further improvement in Revenue's service to taxpayers. It enables taxpayers to arrange attendance at a time when they can be certain of a speedy service and removes the need for queuing.

Revenue offers a range of service channels to support taxpayers to comply voluntarily with their tax and duty obligations.  Revenue continues to enhance its service offering and, in particular, the channels through which their customers can obtain information and/or engage with it.  Revenue will shortly launch a substantially revamped website that will, inter alia, better meet the needs of taxpayers for clear and easy to understand information.

Many taxpayers prefer to do business online and at a time of their convenience.  To meet that need, Revenue has in place modern, high-quality, accessible and user-friendly online services for taxpayers to manage their tax affairs at a time that best suits each taxpayer.  Revenue continues to enhance those services as evidenced by recent on-line developments that include the facility for PAYE customers to file their tax returns online; the 'myaccount' service, eTax Clearance and the 'MyEnquiries' secure online enquiry facility.  Additional developments are in the pipeline. This is supported by, for example, the introduction of a new Business Taxes service and consistent opening hours across the telephone services giving greater certainty for taxpayers.