Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I live in the heart of rural Ireland, in the constituency of Cavan-Monaghan. The vast majority of people generally agree that we need to change the way we live in order to tackle the climate crisis but this needs to be done in an equitable way. The price of home heating oil, for example, increased by 50% in the 12 months to January 2022. This was prior to the recent decision by the Government to increase the carbon tax. Imposing these increases in carbon taxes while inflation is already disproportionately impacting the living standards of low- and middle-income households is completely unfair.

Carbon taxes and the cost of petrol and diesel are having a disproportionate effect on people in rural Ireland. Petrol prices have increased by 30% and diesel prices by a similar rate and yet the Government recently voted to increase the carbon tax on transport fuels and this will be increased further later in the year. As farmers and contractors must rely on heavy machinery which operates on diesel, they have no option but to pay for diesel. Parents in rural areas need to drive their children to school or childcare and they must drive to work because, for the most part, there is a lack of proper public transport. There are no trains going to Cavan or Monaghan and bus services in many rural areas are very light on the ground.

Turf and peat harvesting are also being restricted on many bogs throughout the country. This has led to the importation of briquettes and peat and that does not make any sense whatsoever in the context of the climate crisis. Many rural families depend on turf to heat their homes. A proper plan needs to be put in place for the harvesting of peat products for the domestic sectors that need them.

Retrofitting houses is an important part of fighting climate change but even with grants, it is far too expensive for most people. The waiting list for households eligible for free energy upgrades such as the better energy warmer homes scheme is now in excess of two years. Between 2019 and the end of January this year only 118 homes in Cavan and 85 in Monaghan have been completed under this scheme, which is dismal. There is a need for far greater investment in this area.

We cannot allow social justice to be removed from climate action. We need to invest in public transport, good quality public housing and in wind and solar energy.

We also need to undertake an ambitious afforestation programme, begin the process of retrofitting our housing stock and expand our renewable energy infrastructure.

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