Eamon Ryan
Question:90. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Finance the amount that would be raised by ending fossil fuel subsidies in sectors (details supplied). [32171/18]
View answerThursday, 12 July 2018
Questions (90)
Written answers
I am advised by Revenue that the amount raised from ending subsidies in the manner suggested by the Deputy are as follows.
For Marked Gas Oil (MGO), it is estimated that the equalisation of Mineral Oil Tax (on MGO) to that on diesel for road vehicles would yield in the region of €400 million per annum assuming no behavioural change resulting from the price increase.
Regarding the Diesel Rebate Scheme (DRS), the extent to which refunds are made in any given year through the scheme is dependent on the average price of diesel. For example, refunds under the scheme in 2017 were €1 million while the highest year to date was 2014 with refunds amounting to €21 million.
In relation to the exemption of domestic users from tax on electricity produced from fossil fuels, it is assumed that the Deputy is referring to the use of fossil fuels for the production of electricity. Mineral oil, gas and solid fuels used for the production of electricity are relieved from taxation in accordance with the Energy Tax Directive. The amount of electricity produced from fossil fuels directly supplied to domestic users is not available to Revenue and as such, the yield resulting from the changes proposed by the Deputy cannot be estimated.
Regarding reduced rates of VAT applied to heating oil and the reclaim of VAT on diesel for business, VAT returns do not require the tax on particular activities or products to be separately identified. As a consequence, it is not possible for Revenue to estimate the potential yield from changes to these activities.
Question No. 91 answered with Question No. 89.