Environment taxes in Ireland amounted to €5.1 billion in 2023 which was up 14.6% on the 2022 figures of €4.4 billion.
Environment taxes as a percentage of total taxes was also up at 4.4% in 2023 compared with 4% in 2022, but was considerably lower than the peak 9.2% figure of 2010.
Energy taxes accounted for 62.6% of total environment taxes in 2023, while transport taxes accounted for 37.3% of the total. Pollution and resource taxes contributed just 0.2% of total environment taxes in 2023.
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 2022, consumers of petrol paid an average effective rate of €220 per tonne of carbon dioxide emitted, down 18% from 2021. The average effective carbon rate on road diesel at €164 per tonne in 2022 was 16% lower than in 2021. By contrast, the rate for jet kerosene increased from €5 per tonne in 2021 to €26 in 2022.
In 2022, €2.6 billion was raised in energy taxes in Ireland, down 18% from the 2021 figure of €3.2 billion.
Environment subsidies related to energy and air emissions have increased steadily from 2000 and were €696 million in 2022, the same as in 2021.
Fossil fuel subsidies were €4.7 billion in 2022, up 68% from €2.8 billion in 2021, as a number of temporary Government support measures, including direct subsidies to households and tax rate reductions on petrol and diesel, were introduced in response to rising energy prices.
| Year | Energy taxes | Environment subsidies (energy and air emissions) | Fossil fuel subsidies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1.5 | 0 | 1.5 |
| 2001 | 1.4 | 0 | 1.6 |
| 2002 | 1.7 | 0 | 1.7 |
| 2003 | 1.8 | 0 | 1.6 |
| 2004 | 2.1 | 0 | 1.8 |
| 2005 | 2.2 | 0 | 2.3 |
| 2006 | 2.2 | 0 | 2.5 |
| 2007 | 2.3 | 0.1 | 2.5 |
| 2008 | 2.2 | 0.1 | 3.1 |
| 2009 | 2.3 | 0.1 | 2.8 |
| 2010 | 2.5 | 0.2 | 2.8 |
| 2011 | 2.7 | 0.2 | 2.7 |
| 2012 | 2.6 | 0.1 | 2.7 |
| 2013 | 2.7 | 0.1 | 2.7 |
| 2014 | 2.8 | 0.2 | 2.9 |
| 2015 | 3 | 0.2 | 2.9 |
| 2016 | 3.1 | 0.3 | 2.8 |
| 2017 | 3.3 | 0.4 | 3 |
| 2018 | 3.2 | 0.6 | 3.3 |
| 2019 | 3 | 0.4 | 3.1 |
| 2020 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 2.4 |
| 2021 | 3.2 | 0.7 | 2.8 |
| 2022 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 4.7 |
The consumer price index in Ireland increased significantly in 2023 for most energy products. The price index for electricity increased from 100 in December 2006 to 304 in 2023 (and was up 24% from 244 in 2022). Gas price figures saw the next highest energy product increase over the 2006-2023 period with an index of 256 in 2023 up 34% from the 2022 figure. Diesel fell in price by 12% in 2023 from an index of 185 in 2022 to 163.
| 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 |
| 2023 | 303.9 | 224.2 | 165.2 | 162.7 | 256 |
Figure 2.3 and Table 2.5 contain information on the domestic extraction of resources, physical trade and domestic material consumption for Ireland over the 1995-2022 period.
Domestic extraction in Ireland increased from 78.1 million tonnes in 1995 to 156.5 million tonnes in 2007, before falling to 73.1 million tonnes in 2011. By 2022 the figure had increased to 93.6 million tonnes.
The physical trade balance (imports minus exports in tonnes) was positive for the entire 1995-2022 period. Trade imports were more than double trade exports for every year in this period. In 2022 trade imports exceeded exports by 25.4 million tonnes, the third highest since 1995.
Domestic Material Consumption (DMC) refers to domestic extraction plus trade imports and minus trade exports. DMC increased from 91.7 million tonnes in 1995 to 184.1 million tonnes in 2007, before falling to 92.3 million tonnes in 2011. In 2022 DMC had increased to 119 million tonnes.
| Year | Domestic extraction | Trade imports | Trade exports | Domestic material consumption |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 78.1 | 24.4 | 10.8 | 91.7 |
| 1996 | 81.8 | 25.2 | 10.4 | 96.6 |
| 1997 | 84 | 27.2 | 11.5 | 99.8 |
| 1998 | 91.1 | 30.3 | 12.2 | 109.2 |
| 1999 | 102.1 | 29.6 | 12.1 | 119.6 |
| 2000 | 113.4 | 31.9 | 13.5 | 131.8 |
| 2001 | 114 | 31.7 | 12.8 | 132.8 |
| 2002 | 113.3 | 34.3 | 13.6 | 134 |
| 2003 | 134.6 | 33 | 12.5 | 155.1 |
| 2004 | 142.1 | 36.7 | 14.2 | 164.7 |
| 2005 | 146 | 37.5 | 14.2 | 169.4 |
| 2006 | 155.6 | 38.8 | 14.7 | 179.7 |
| 2007 | 156.5 | 42.3 | 14.7 | 184.1 |
| 2008 | 138.3 | 38.9 | 14.9 | 162.3 |
| 2009 | 103.8 | 33.4 | 13.2 | 124 |
| 2010 | 86.1 | 35.8 | 14.7 | 107.2 |
| 2011 | 73.1 | 34.9 | 15.7 | 92.3 |
| 2012 | 74.1 | 34.8 | 16.4 | 92.5 |
| 2013 | 78.3 | 36.6 | 15.7 | 99.3 |
| 2014 | 77.1 | 36.4 | 16.7 | 96.8 |
| 2015 | 79.4 | 39.1 | 18.5 | 100 |
| 2016 | 87.3 | 38.7 | 18.8 | 107.2 |
| 2017 | 91.8 | 40.3 | 18.5 | 113.7 |
| 2018 | 95.6 | 43.9 | 18.3 | 121.1 |
| 2019 | 100.5 | 41.5 | 18.3 | 123.7 |
| 2020 | 94.3 | 40.5 | 18.6 | 116.3 |
| 2021 | 91.8 | 43.7 | 19.3 | 116.2 |
| 2022 | 93.6 | 44.5 | 19.1 | 118.9 |
Fish landings by Irish vessels in Irish ports were stable between 2022 and 2023 at 156,900 tonnes. The 2023 figure was the second lowest over the entire 2007-2023 period.
Blue Whiting was the most common fish species landed in Irish ports by Irish vessels, at 31% of the total in 2023, up from 11% in 2007. Atlantic Mackerel accounted for 26% of the total in 2023 compared with 16% in 2007. By contrast, Atlantic Herring fell from 16% of the total catch in 2007 to under 1% in 2023, while Horse Mackerel fell from 18% to 1% over the same period.
Dwellings built in recent years are considerably more energy efficient than those constructed in earlier periods, with 99% of those constructed during 2020-2024 given an A building energy rating, compared with 2% in 2000-2004.
In contrast the proportion of dwellings with an F or G building energy rating fell from 28% 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.
In 2023, Ireland’s total gas consumption through the network was 52,575 gigawatt hours, which is a decrease of 7.1% from 2022. This information is shown in Table 2.9.
Power plants were responsible for 65% of the total gas consumption in 2023, while the non-residential sector used 24% and the residential sector accounted for 11% of the total gas used in 2023.
In 2023, Ireland’s total metered electricity consumption was 30,581 gigawatt hours, up 2.5% from the 2022 figure of 29,824 gigawatt hours.
Large energy users, such as the largest data centres and cement manufacturing, were responsible for 30% of metered electricity consumption in 2023, up from 15% in 2015. The residential sector consumed 28% of metered electricity in 2023, while the remainder of non-residential consumers accounted for 42% of the total used.
The volume of excise clearances for autodiesel increased slightly from 3,588 million litres in 2022 to 3,594 million litres in 2023.
The volume of fuel excise clearances for unleaded petrol declined from 2 billion litres in 2000 to 773 million litres in 2020. It increased to 1 billion litres in 2023.
Marked gas oil clearances decreased from 1,147 million litres in 2022 to 1,096 million litres in 2023.
The volume of excise clearances for kerosene fell slightly from 922 million litres in 2022 to 918 million litres in 2023.
Gross output by the environment goods and services sector was €8.8 billion in 2021, an increase of 9.2% on 2020. Gross output of this sector, at 3.8% of modified gross national income in 2021, slightly down from 3.9% in the previous year, but up from the average of 3.3% over the 2010-2020 period.
Environment protection activities accounted for €3.7 billion (42.5%) of total environment goods and services sector gross output in 2021, while resource management activities accounted for €5.1 billion (57.5%) of gross output in 2021.
In 2023, the amount of wood removed from forests increased by 1.5% going from 4.186 million cubic metres in 2022 to 4.248. million. However, this amount was still 28.3% higher than the 2015 figure of 3.312 million cubic metres, as shown in Table 2.13.
The Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing sector and the Household sector were the two highest emitting sectors of greenhouse gases in 2022.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing accounted for 39% of emissions in 2022, 1% of gross value added, 4% of employment, 1% of environment taxes and 20% of environmental subsidies.
The Industrial sector was responsible for 19% of emissions, 43% of gross value added 19% of employment, 12% of environment taxes and 20% of environmental subsidies in 2022.
Households accounted for 23% of greenhouse gas emissions, 56% of environment taxes and 18% of environmental subsidies in 2022. As Households are included in this Indicator as consumers only and not as producers, there is no share of gross value added or employment for this sector.
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