By Olivia Fletcher | Updated on Oct 06, 2026 at 01:54 PM
Ireland announced a slew of energy measures in its budget Tuesday as part of a plan to to quell voters’ anger over rising fuel and heating costs.
The announcement contained supports to target soaring energy costs, including reducing carbon tax on home-heating oil and gas. The tax will not increase again in the lifetime of the government, Finance Minister Simon Harris said.
The finance ministry is also extending the temporary reduction in fuel exercise rates that are currently in place until November to the end of February 2027, Harris added.
“Extraordinary circumstances we find ourselves in do call now for extraordinary measures,” Harris said Tuesday. “The decision not to proceed with future increases in these products will ultimately result in the carbon tax rate being less than half of what was originally set out in the original trajectory.”
Its part of a move to try and stave off growing voter discontent with a cost-of-living squeeze. Haulier and farmer protest groups brought the country to a halt in April by blocking roads and the country’s only oil terminal over rising fuel costs.