Statistical Yearbook of Ireland 2021: Part 3 Travel, Agriculture, Environment and COVID-19

In 2011, estimated environment taxes levied on households were €2.7 billion, representing a 65% share of total environment taxes. In 2020, household environment taxes have fallen back to €2.5 billion and represented a 54% share of total environment taxes.

Environment taxes levied on service industries were €1.0 billion in 2011, representing a 23.1% share of total environment taxes. In 2020, environment taxes paid by service industries were €1.5 billion and represented a 32.5% share of total environment taxes. 

In 2011, the percentage share of total environment taxes levied on industry was 10.2% while in 2020 it was 11.7%.

Environment taxes levied on agriculture were €0.06 billion in 2011, representing a 1.4% share of total environment taxes. In 2020, environment taxes levied on agriculture were also €0.06 billion and represented a 1.4% share of total environment taxes (see Figure 27.1).

Estimated gross output by the environment goods and services sector 2010-2018 is given in Figure 27.2.

Gross output was €7.2 billion in 2018, an increase of 7% on 2017.  Environment protection activities accounted for €3.0 billion (41%) of total environment goods and services sector gross output in 2018 while resource management activities accounted for €4.2 billion (59%) of gross output. The percent share related to resource management activities has been steadily increasing over time on foot of growth in renewable energy and investment in water services.

In 2019, environmental subsidies and similar transfers in Ireland were €1.0 billion, which was €85 million lower than in 2018.

In 2019, 14% of environmental subsidies and similar transfers went to renewable energy production, 22% to biodiversity protection, 31% to wastewater management and 14% to heat and energy saving measures. Other activities, such as climate change mitigation and waste management, accounted for the remaining 20% (see Figure 27.3).

Fossil fuel subsidies were estimated at €2.4 billion in 2019, a 1% increase on 2018.

Direct fossil fuel subsidies accounted for 11% of total fossil fuel subsidies in 2019 while indirect subsidies arising from revenue foregone due to tax abatements accounted for 89% (see Figure 27.4).

Table 27.1 shows that, in 2019 consumers of petrol paid an average effective rate of €258.57 per tonne of carbon dioxide emitted. The average effective carbon rate on autodiesel was 29% lower at €183.47.

Carbon dioxide emissions from jet kerosene were charged at €0.08 per tonne in 2019, due to the tax exemption for commercial aviation.