The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 may have had an impact on the trend in some of the indicators (such as emissions to air, transport and energy) in this publication.
Environment taxes in Ireland amounted to €4.5 billion in 2022 which was down 8.6% on the 2021 figures of €5 billion.
Environment taxes as a percentage of total taxes at 4.3% in 2022 was the lowest over the 2000-2022 period and were considerably lower than the peak 9.2% figure of 2010.
Energy taxes accounted for 61% of total environment taxes in 2022, while transport taxes accounted for 39% of the total. Pollution and Resource taxes contributed just 0.4% of total environment taxes in 2022.
Environmental subsidies and similar transfers in Ireland were €1.6 billion in 2022, up 7% from the 2021 figure of €1.5 billion.
Subsidies associated with the production of energy from renewable resources increased from 0% of all environmental subsidies in 2000 to 20% in 2022. Subsidies associated with wastewater management declined from 51% of total environment subsidies in 2000 to 29% in 2022, while those associated with the protection of biodiversity fell from 33% to 13% over this period.
In 2021, consumers of petrol paid an average effective rate of €269 per tonne of carbon dioxide emitted. The average effective carbon rate on road diesel was 27% lower at €196 per tonne in 2021, with the difference mainly due to the lower excise tax on road diesel. The rate for jet kerosene was just €3 per tonne in 2021.
In 2021, €3.2 billion was raised in energy taxes in Ireland. Environment subsidies related to energy and air emissions were €697 million in 2021, while €2.9 billion was spent on fossil fuel subsidies.
| Year | Energy taxes | Environment subsidies (energy and air emissions) | Fossil fuel subsidies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1.4913353073527 | 0.000493 | 1.49 |
| 2001 | 1.4357704108347 | 0.0007564526 | 1.58 |
| 2002 | 1.67401193199998 | 0.0033538364 | 1.667 |
| 2003 | 1.76291256499993 | 0.0132077332 | 1.561 |
| 2004 | 2.08421521099992 | 0.0230994798 | 1.817 |
| 2005 | 2.21229103399991 | 0.0218996992 | 2.323 |
| 2006 | 2.23249093499991 | 0.0181598708 | 2.465 |
| 2007 | 2.25046809199995 | 0.0513370204 | 2.505 |
| 2008 | 2.24980783699996 | 0.0566493052 | 3.113 |
| 2009 | 2.26537999999992 | 0.0584303734 | 2.813 |
| 2010 | 2.52048882499997 | 0.1837190178 | 2.812 |
| 2011 | 2.691957596 | 0.1683667969 | 2.756 |
| 2012 | 2.634405171 | 0.1218654914 | 2.777 |
| 2013 | 2.72134076559478 | 0.1280584 | 2.74 |
| 2014 | 2.84019627 | 0.1501598 | 2.927 |
| 2015 | 3.042883324 | 0.2156103 | 2.939 |
| 2016 | 3.13525459166667 | 0.2966864 | 2.86 |
| 2017 | 3.25800358066667 | 0.4116693 | 3.046 |
| 2018 | 3.17604088633333 | 0.5580272 | 3.316 |
| 2019 | 3.015239845 | 0.395119 | 3.152 |
| 2020 | 2.76786278166667 | 0.4012503 | 2.469 |
| 2021 | 3.20291125833333 | 0.6965259 | 2.859 |
The consumer price index in Ireland increased significantly in 2022 for most energy products. The price index for electricity increased from 100 in December 2006 to 244 in 2022 (and was up 42% from 172 in 2021). Gas price figures saw the next highest energy product increase over the 2006-2022 period with an index of 191 in 2022 up 59% from the 2021 figure. Autodiesel increased in price from an index of 100 in December 2006 to 184.9 in 2022 up 34% from its price in 2021.
| Year | Electricity | Solid fuels | Petrol | Autodiesel | Gas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 65.5 | 68 | 87.5 | 82.9 | 48.8 |
| 2001 | 65.7 | 73.5 | 81 | 72.9 | 49.9 |
| 2002 | 71.5 | 76.5 | 83.9 | 75.9 | 50.1 |
| 2003 | 79.2 | 78.7 | 84.5 | 78.5 | 53 |
| 2004 | 84.8 | 81.5 | 92.8 | 86.8 | 55.6 |
| 2005 | 96 | 87.7 | 100.7 | 99.4 | 64.7 |
| 2006 | 100 | 94.4 | 107.5 | 104.7 | 81.8 |
| 2007 | 111.6 | 102.6 | 108.9 | 105.1 | 90.6 |
| 2008 | 114.3 | 112 | 116.9 | 121.7 | 91.2 |
| 2009 | 115.8 | 120.5 | 107.7 | 99.3 | 93.7 |
| 2010 | 111.7 | 117.5 | 126.7 | 119.4 | 83.6 |
| 2011 | 119.1 | 118.2 | 144.2 | 138.7 | 89.1 |
| 2012 | 132.6 | 118.6 | 157.7 | 151.4 | 102.7 |
| 2013 | 140 | 123 | 153.1 | 146.1 | 109.5 |
| 2014 | 145 | 131 | 147.8 | 140.5 | 111.8 |
| 2015 | 144.8 | 134.8 | 132.8 | 122.3 | 109.2 |
| 2016 | 139.7 | 134.3 | 124.3 | 111.1 | 105.9 |
| 2017 | 138.3 | 133.9 | 132.2 | 120.7 | 104.2 |
| 2018 | 148 | 134.8 | 139.7 | 129.7 | 109.3 |
| 2019 | 152.7 | 137.3 | 138.6 | 130 | 116.6 |
| 2020 | 153.2 | 139.5 | 134.4 | 124.1 | 111.6 |
| 2021 | 172.2 | 146.1 | 148.7 | 138.2 | 120.3 |
| 2022 | 244.1 | 189.3 | 181.1 | 184.9 | 190.9 |
Domestic extraction of resources in Ireland increased from 71.4 million tonnes in 1995 to 149.3 million tonnes in 2007, before falling to 66.5 million tonnes in 2011. In 2021 the figure had increased to 87.7 million tonnes.
Domestic Material Consumption (DMC) increased from 85.1 million tonnes in 1995 to 176.9 million tonnes in 2007, before falling to 85.7 million tonnes in 2011. In 2021 DMC had increased to 111.6 million tonnes.
| Year | Domestic extraction | Trade imports | Trade exports | Domestic material consumption |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 71.4240445291635 | 24.4287 | 10.79 | 85.0627445291635 |
| 1996 | 75.7288393243934 | 25.1593 | 10.3579 | 90.5302393243934 |
| 1997 | 77.4849501760156 | 27.2437 | 11.5208 | 93.2078501760156 |
| 1998 | 85.6183186044425 | 30.2987 | 12.1855 | 103.731518604443 |
| 1999 | 95.8804406125602 | 29.6425 | 12.104 | 113.41894061256 |
| 2000 | 106.096787193087 | 31.9218 | 13.4806 | 124.537987193088 |
| 2001 | 106.895442673148 | 31.7022 | 12.8405 | 125.757142673148 |
| 2002 | 106.739114273382 | 34.3299 | 13.6243 | 127.444714273383 |
| 2003 | 124.316059792239 | 33.0326 | 12.4735 | 144.875159792239 |
| 2004 | 134.580678638933 | 36.7112 | 14.1822 | 157.109678638933 |
| 2005 | 135.559609288359 | 37.5455 | 14.1847 | 158.920409288359 |
| 2006 | 146.756007927807 | 38.8001 | 14.6759 | 170.880207927807 |
| 2007 | 149.304056422943 | 42.297 | 14.6758 | 176.925256422943 |
| 2008 | 130.646512809855 | 38.8646 | 14.8787 | 154.632412809855 |
| 2009 | 96.2253196586412 | 33.3898 | 13.1586 | 116.456519658641 |
| 2010 | 79.537433557128 | 35.8108 | 14.6605 | 100.687733557128 |
| 2011 | 66.5056037790187 | 34.9465 | 15.7463 | 85.7058037790187 |
| 2012 | 67.7552176570878 | 34.7508 | 16.3758 | 86.1302176570878 |
| 2013 | 71.8446873590898 | 36.6239 | 15.6723 | 92.7962873590898 |
| 2014 | 70.3181908008064 | 36.4182 | 16.7018 | 90.0345908008064 |
| 2015 | 72.9764940055757 | 39.1474 | 18.5299 | 93.5939940055756 |
| 2016 | 80.9443370801483 | 38.6796 | 18.8099 | 100.814037080148 |
| 2017 | 85.3400221721769 | 40.3492 | 18.4621 | 107.227122172177 |
| 2018 | 89.0684845243844 | 43.878 | 18.2946 | 114.651884524384 |
| 2019 | 93.6074622427714 | 41.5186 | 18.3306 | 116.795462242771 |
| 2020 | 86.9946066820782 | 40.534 | 18.5545 | 108.974106682078 |
| 2021 | 87.711956031855 | 43.0186 | 19.1342 | 111.596356031855 |
Fish landings by Irish vessels in Irish ports varied between 149,200 tonnes (in 2008) and 249,200 tonnes (in 2012) during the period 2007-2022. In 2022 this figure was 156,900 tonnes, down 14% on the previous year.
Atlantic Mackerel was the most common fish species landed in Irish ports by Irish vessels, at 29% of the total in 2022, followed by Blue Whiting at 17% of the total in that year.
Dwellings built in recent years are considerably more energy efficient than those constructed in earlier periods, with 99% of those constructed during 2020-2022 given an A building energy rating, compared with 1% in 2000-2004.
In contrast the proportion of dwellings with an F or G building energy rating fell from 31% in dwellings constructed during 1700-1977 to 0% since 2009.
The average monthly domestic metered public water consumption per meter per day in 2022 was 357 litres. This was an 8% decrease compared with the 2014 average of 386 litres.
The median monthly consumption per meter per day in 2022 at 261 litres was 2% higher than the 2014 figure of 256 litres.
The median monthly consumption per meter per day was 73% of the average in 2022 compared with 2014 when it was 66% of the average.
Total networked gas consumption in Ireland in 2022 was 56,617 gigawatt hours, an increase of 2.2% compared with the consumption figure in 2021.
Power plants accounted for 65% of total networked gas consumption in 2022 compared with 23% for the non-residential sector and 12% for the residential sector.
Total metered electricity consumption in Ireland was 29,500 GWh in 2022, an increase of 3.5% compared with 2021.
Large energy users, such as the largest data centres and cement manufacturing, accounted for 27% of metered electricity consumption in 2022, up from 15% in 2015. The residential sector consumed 29% of metered electricity in 2022.
The volume of excise clearances for autodiesel increased from 2 billion litres in 2000 to 3.7 billion litres in 2019. This figure declined in 2020 to 3.2 billion litres due to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on transport volumes. Excise clearances for autodiesel recovered to 3.6 billion litres in 2022.
The volume of fuel excise clearances for unleaded petrol declined from 2000 when it was 2 billion litres to 773 million litres in 2020. It increased to 931 million litres in 2022.
Marked gas oil clearances decreased from 1.6 billion litres in 2000 to 1.1 billion litres in 2022.
The volume of excise clearances for kerosene increased from 789 million litres in 2000 to 922 million litres in 2022.
Gross output by the environment goods and services sector was €7.8 billion in 2020, a decrease of 4.3% on 2019. Gross output of this sector, at 3.8% of modified Gross National Income in 2020, was stable over the 2010-2020 period. Environment protection activities accounted for €3.6 billion (46%) of total environment goods and services sector gross output in 2020 while resource management activities accounted for €4.2 billion (54%) of gross output in 2020.
Forest wood removals decreased 4% from 4.3 million cubic metres in 2021 to 4.1 million cubic metres in 2022, but were 25% higher than the 2015 figure of 3.3 million cubic metres.
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