Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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135. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of studies that his Department has commissioned or conducted into the impacts of carbon taxes. [48754/17]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Carbon tax was introduced on a phased basis and applied to motor fuels with effect from December 2009. It was extended to non-solid fuels in 2010 and finally to solid fuels in 2013 and 2014. As with all taxes it is reviewed on an ongoing basis in the context of the Tax Strategy Group deliberations on annual budget options.

In addition to such reviews, pursuant to a commitment in the National Mitigation Plan, my Department is engaged in a joint research initiative with the ESRI to examine the social and economic implications arising from changes in the rate of carbon tax. It is expected that this analysis will inform budgetary decisions on the future direction of policy in this area.