Majority of Irish Voters Oppose Doubling Of Carbon Tax, Poll Reveals

Almost three-quarters of Irish voters would oppose an increase in carbon tax to €40 per ton in next month’s budget, according to a Behaviour & Attitudes (B&A) poll for The Sunday Times.

Asked if they would support a doubling of the tax on petrol, diesel, coal and briquettes to discourage their use, 72% of respondents said they would not, while just 18% supported the idea.

Finance minister Paschal Donohoe is expected to raise the tax in the October 8 budget. His failure to do so last year was criticised by climate change campaigners. Carbon tax is currently levied at €20 per ton of CO₂.

Today’s poll reveals marked demographic contrasts in attitudes to carbon tax, with 32% of people in Dublin in favour of increasing it, compared with 9% in Connaught-Ulster. A quarter of urban dwellers back the move, but only 7% in rural areas, where 86% oppose a rise.

According to income classification, farmers were the least enthusiastic at 4%, while 25% of the best-off ABC1 cohort said they would support carbon tax increases.