Carbon tax harder on rural dwellers

CARBON tax could cost rural households ten times more than it costs urban households, says Irish Rural Link, which represents rural community groups.

Rural households are estimated to spend twice as much as urban households on central-heating oil, the price of which has risen by 37.6% in the last year, and which will rise by 8% this weekend, when the carbon tax is applied. Irish Rural Link has estimated that the ban of turf cutting on certain bogs, from this year, risks pushing 1,000 rural households that rely on turf into fuel poverty.

The rural community organisation called for energy efficiency schemes to be delivered by community-based organisations, employing local people or Rural Social Scheme participants.