Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 127: To ask the Minister for Finance the measures he plans to take to reduce the impact of the carbon tax on domestic, household, farming, transport, tourism, industrial and commercial sectors, having regard to the current economic climate and those on lower income after the harsh winter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19660/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I announced in the Budget that a carbon tax at a rate of €15 per tonne would be introduced on fossil fuels. The tax was applied to petrol and auto-diesel with effect from midnight, 9 December 2009; and applied from 1 May 2010 to kerosene, marked gas oil (also known as 'green diesel' or 'agricultural diesel'), liquid petroleum gas (LPG), fuel oil and natural gas. The application of the tax to coal and commercial peat is subject to a Commencement Order. The only reliefs from the carbon tax are for those companies that participate in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS).

A number of Government Departments, including my Department are exploring options for how best to offset the impact of the carbon tax on low-income households. A number of options are being explored including improving the energy efficiency of low-income households which will help offset increases in fuel prices arising from carbon taxation.