Written answers

Tuesday, 29 January 2019

Department of Finance

Carbon Tax Implementation

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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178. To ask the Minister for Finance the work being carried out by his Department to address unfair and unequal probable impacts of future national policy on carbon taxation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4322/19]

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Decisions on tax policy take place every year as part of the annual budgetary process. The Environmental Taxes paper prepared annually for the Tax Strategy Group contains analysis on the carbon tax and this helps inform subsequent budget decisions. The Tax Strategy Group papers are available to read on the Department of Finance website.

The ESRI was commissioned and has published research on the environmental, social and economic impacts of increasing the carbon tax rate and is now in the next phase of this research, which will help inform future carbon tax policy decisions.

Under a commitment contained in the National Mitigation Plan, there are also cross departmental structures to examine carbon tax policy. In addition, the Deputy will be aware that the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action is currently considering measures to tackle climate change, including in relation to the carbon tax. The final report of the Committee is expected to be published soon and this will also be taken into consideration as part of the budgetary process.

In regard to mitigation factors, there are schemes already in place to help qualifying households to keep their homes warm through the winter. These include the National Fuel Allowance under the Department of Social Protection and a variety of home energy grants for energy efficiency improvements under the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.

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