Written answers

Wednesday, 28 April 2021

Photo of Patrick CostelloPatrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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267. To ask the Minister for Finance the estimated revenue that would be raised if the carbon tax was doubled and the 2030 levy target was doubled to €200 per tonne. [21370/21]

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Carbon Tax rate will increase each year for the next 10 years based on a programme of changes in the amount charged for carbon emissions, starting from the current level of €33.50 per tonne of CO2 and concluding at €100 per tonne of CO2 in 2030.

Revenue’s Ready Reckoner shows a wide range of detailed information in relation to potential tax changes, including on page 23 estimates for the yield from changes in duties on Carbon Tax. The Ready Reckoner is available on the website of the Office of the Revenue Commissioners at the following address: and can also be easily found via the Revenue website search facility or via an internet search.

The Ready Reckoner shows the estimated yield from various increases in the rate per tonne (from the current level of €33.50 per tonne of CO2). Where the cost of specific increases proposed are not displayed in the Ready Reckoner, they can be estimated on a straight-line or pro-rata basis from the costs shown.

I am advised by Revenue that the estimates in the Ready Reckoner are prepared on the assumption of no behavioural change in response to a change in the tax. While this is a reasonable assumption in most cases, for relatively large changes of the nature proposed by the Deputy it becomes more likely that some behavioural change may result. The Revenue estimates are based on the regular volumes for each commodity expected in a normal (non-covid) year and are inclusive of VAT.

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