Aontú Leader Peadar Tóibín has received information from the Department of Finance which shows that fuel taxes reached a record €4.3billion in 2025.
The figures showed that carbon tax collected reached €1.17billion – and that carbon tax is a full 80% higher now than it was just 5 years ago, the Meath West TD said.
“Fuel taxes reached a record €4.3bn last year. This is the highest tax take by the government on fuel in the history of the state. Indeed, Carbon tax reached €1.17bn , again another record. Carbon tax is a full 80% higher now than it was just 5 years ago. These figures don’t include tax on electricity which is estimated to be another €300m. These are eye watering figures and they are only going one way,” he said.
“What the government doesn’t seem to understand that many middle-income earners cannot afford to pay this level of tax. We have stories of middle income families who are going to bed early to save money on fuel. Their incomes are too high for social welfare supports but too low to keep the heat on. Nurses, teachers, Gardaí and small business owners are struggling to fill their cars and their home heating oil tanks,” he continued.
“The government are taxing fuel as if it was a luxury good. Its not. It’s a staple of life. This is not how tax is meant to work. Tax is supposed to recognise ability to pay,” the Aontú leader said.
“The reason fuel taxes are rising so quickly is because of the government plan to decarbonise the energy market. But again, so many middle income earners are caught in a trap. They can’t afford deep retro fitting, electric cars or solar panels and they don’t have access to public transport. Yet the are facing excruciating carbon taxes designed to force them in that direction,” he adeed.
He called on the Government to suspend carbon tax increases in May and to “cut Carbon Tax on Home heating oil for the duration of this energy crisis”.
This week the Government said it was introducing “temporary and targeted measures to reduce fuel prices for households and businesses, with additional supports for key sectors of the Irish economy”.
The rate of Mineral Oil Tax was reduced on a VAT inclusive basis by:
15 cent per litre for petrol,
20 cent per litre for auto diesel, and
3 cent per litre for MGO.