INCREASE IN CARBON TAX FOR 2019 BUDGET
Leo warns action needed on climate change target
LEO Varadkar has announced next year’s Budget must include a hike in the carbon tax.
Making his summer briefing in Government Buildings, the Taoiseach said he recognised this would affect those living in poverty.
The Fine Gael leader added: “If we’re going to meet our targets we’re going to have to grasp the nettle in pricing carbon and increasing the carbon tax in the next couple of years.
“We very much recognise those living in poverty and vulnerable people will be worst affected by that, so we will have to look at compensatory measures.
“However, we will be working on a set of proposals for setting a price on carbon to bring the tax up as part of our climate change obligations.” Mr Varadkar revealed the Budget would be similar to this year’s but with more funding for education and welfare.
He added: “The Budget will be broadly balanced in 2019, moving to a surplus in 2020, allowing the national debt to be reduced.
“Where there are additional resources available, the Budget will recognise unmet needs and this will go very heavily to increasing spending and improving public infrastructure over tax reduction. The tax package will be supporting families will include proposals for two weeks’ paid parental leave which new parents can share between them.
The Taoiseach also similar to last year claimed the proposed – modest, with a pension reform will real focus on raising end “one of the biggest the standard rate economic inequalities”. cut-off point, He said two thirds of Leo Varadkar the point where people working in the people start paying more income tax.” private sector do not have a pension Mr Varadkar told how the Government other than a state one. plans to restore the carer’s Mr Varadkar added: “We’re fundamentally support grant, increase carer’s allowance changing that so that people and disability allowance, and will have a pension scheme, people will introduce a 12-week draw-down period pay in, their employer will pay in, and after someone stops being a carer in the Government will pay in, too.” order for them to adjust. Focus on