Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
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153. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on how carbon tax revenue has been spent for 2024 and to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30082/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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There are three measures within my Department - Residential /Community Retrofit, Just Transition and the Green Climate Fund - that receive funding from carbon tax revenue.

Residential /Community Retrofit

In 2024, €380 million in carbon tax revenue part funded the delivery of almost 54,000 home energy upgrades, including Solar PV, exceeding the overall 2024 target of 52,000 upgrades. Of this, over 7,700 low-income households were provided with free energy upgrades under the Warmer Homes Scheme, and over 28,400 households received funding supports under the Domestic Solar PV scheme.

The carbon tax revenues allocation for 2025 is €469 million and will part fund the delivery of over 64,500 home energy upgrades, including solar PV installations. By the end of April this year, 17,000 home energy upgrades were delivered, including solar PV installations. Of this, over 2,400 low-income households at risk of energy poverty were provided with free energy upgrades, and over 9,300 households received supports to invest in solar PV.

Just Transition

The EU and National Just Transition Funds provide funding to local and community-led projects which are implementing innovative plans to support the transition to a low carbon economy across a range of activities in the wider-Midlands region, following the cessation of commercial peat extraction. In 2024, €4.2 million in carbon tax revenue contributed towards the funding of projects. The National Fund closed in December 2024. For 2025, the carbon tax revenue allocation is €6 million, and this funding will continue to support local, and community led projects in their transition.

The Green Climate Fund , the world’s largest multilateral climate fund, is mandated to support developing countries. Ireland committed €40,000,000 to the second replenishment of the Fund in 2023. In 2024, Ireland provided €15,000,000 in funding, of which €2 million was funded from carbon tax revenues. For 2025, Ireland’s contribution remains at €15,000,000, including €2m in carbon tax revenues.