Revenue's Decentralised Office in Listowel is officially opened
Mr. Noel Ahern, TD, Minister of State at the Department of Finance today (01/11/2007) officially opened Revenue's decentralised office in Listowel. There are currently 44 staff in place filling 41.5 posts in the new offices in Mill Lane with more staff due to follow to bring the full complement of posts to 50.
The business activities carried out in Listowel will include both tax collection and enforcement of all the major taxes. The office will also be responsible for the administration of some individual taxes such as Professional Services Withholding Tax, Environmental Levy ('Plastic Bag Tax') and Deposit Interest Retention Tax.
Speaking at the opening Minister Ahern, who has special responsibility for the Office of Public Works said:
"…progress is well advanced in relation to the civil service aspects of the decentralisation programme and the success of the programme can be judged from the fact that decentralisation is now a reality in 29 new locations with 1500 posts in situ. By the end of this year, public services will be delivered from 33 of the towns involved in the Programme with over 2,000 posts transferred from Dublin to the regions."
The Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners, Mr Frank Daly said:
"This latest phase of decentralisation has provided Revenue with the opportunity to consolidate and relocate some additional functions within the Mid-West Region. We now have virtually all the Collector-General's functions consolidated in the Mid-West region at our offices in Limerick, Nenagh, Kilrush and Listowel. Next year we will see the opening of a further office in Newcastle West in Limerick."
Mr Frank Daly also gave an update on the number of returns filed.
Approximately 120,000 paper F11 returns for the 2006 Tax Year were filed with the CG's office to date.
Yesterday alone, just over 13,000 forms were received in Sarsfield House up to midnight, the last return handed in was at approximately 11.59 pm.
Approximately 6,000 returns were delivered by An Post to Sarsfield House by 9 am this morning. A further delivery is expected later in the day. These returns are all on time as we accept that returns with a postmark date of 31 October are filed on time.
Practitioners who are filing using the ROS system, have until November 15th to complete the Pay and File process. As of midnight last night 164,486 ROS returns had been received - up 14% on the same period last year.
The office at Listowel is the second of two new Revenue offices which Minister Ahern has opened for Revenue in as many days. Yesterday (31st October) he officially opened Revenue's new decentralised office in Kilrush.
Full content of Chairman's Speech
[Ends, 1/11/07]