Scheme for tax on home heating fuels ‘up in air’

AS Age Action Ireland calls upon the Government to suspend plans for the carbon tax on home heating fuels, the Department of Finance has admitted that the scheme is still up in the air.

It was announced in the December budget that the carbon tax would be extended to household fuels on May 1. However, it now appears this date will be missed. A compensation scheme was also to be developed to offset the tax’s impact on poorer households, but the details of that haven’t been finalised either.

St Vincent de Paul warned yesterday the “economic downturn and bad winter” has led to a 33% rise in calls for help so far this year. This follows a 36% rise in the first half of 2009. The Society warned the carbon tax would “put an ever-increasing burden on these people”.