Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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99. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if considerations have been given to plant nurseries in relation to carbon tax and the reuse of carbon by LPG generators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51616/21]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government committed to increasing the carbon tax to €100 euro per tonne by 2030.  It also committed to hypothecating all of the revenues arising from these increases. It is estimated that, over the decade, this will provide an additional €9.5bn in spending that would not otherwise be available.

As per the commitment in the Programme for Government, all of the revenue that will be raised by these increases in carbon tax will be used to: 

- Ensure that the increases in the carbon tax are progressive by spending €3 billion on targeted social welfare and other initiatives to prevent fuel poverty and ensure a just transition (Department of Social Protection);

- Provide €5 billion to part fund a socially progressive national retrofitting programme (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications);

- Allocate €1.5bn of additional funding to encourage and incentivise farmers to farm in a greener and more sustainable way (Department of Agriculture).

The specific programme measures in each sector are a matter for those Ministers receiving funding.