Outstanding... Revenue is owed €4.3bn

REVENUE is owed a colossal €4.3billion in unpaid taxes – with some of it due for payment more than a decade ago, new figures show.

Almost three-quarters of the figure, €3.25billion, is currently under appeal, but that leaves nearly a billion that is regarded as available for collection.

A detailed explanation is required from Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe as to why it has not already come into State coffers, Labour Party spokeswoman on Finance Joan Burton said. She added: ‘A total of €969million is immediately available for collection and would make a significant difference to public services.’ The amount is dwarfed, however, by the €13billion in tax Ireland is due from Apple Inc, according to the European Commission.

Ms Burton said new figures of outstanding liabilities in Ireland, released in response to a Dáil question, showed that ‘wealth’ taxes of €111million were outstanding.

‘That would cover the shortfall in the capital budget in 2019 for the National Children’s Hospital,’ she said.

‘The sums involved are incredibly large, so for those involved in appeals against liability, the stakes are high.’

Ms Burton said she would be asking further questions as to where these major tax appeals are occurring.

She added that after Brexit the State ‘would need to ensure it has as many resources available to it as possible’.