Dismissing the opposition's claim that taxpayers were being short-changed by Revenue, finance minister Brian Cowen said in the Dáil last week that Revenue had spent almost Euro2.2m on newspaper, radio, bus shelter, Luas and Dart ads encouraging people to claim relief on bin charges, rent relief and medical expenses.

Cowen added that Revenue spent another Euro1.3m informing each of the more than two million individual taxpayers of the reliefs and credits available to them, and encouraging them to use Revenue's selfservice options to claim them.

Another Euro500,000 is being set aside this year to promote the new Revenue self-service online option, added Cowen.

Two weeks ago, the assistant secretary in Revenue, Norman Gillanders, said that it plans to open an "internet cafe-type" facility as part of the refurbishment and extension of its premises at O'Connell Street in Dublin. Taxpayers will be able to drop in to the internet cafe to file tax returns, make claims and find information.

"Revenue already employs Polish people and we are looking to recruit some Chinese staff, " said Gillanders.