Budget 2022 will have a positive impact on Climate Action – Farrell

Budget 2022 will benefit our efforts to tackle Climate Change in Ireland, Fine Gael TD Alan Farrell has said.

Deputy Farrell, Fine Gael’s Spokesperson on Climate Action, said, “This budget will allow us to fund important changes that will help us meet the imperative goals of our Climate Action ambitions.

“Budget 2022 will help target and ensure we as a society provide a just transition and eradicate fuel poverty in Ireland. The budget will also benefit the ambitious goals of retrofitting hundreds of thousands of homes across Ireland in the years ahead.”

Deputy Farrell continued, “Microgeneration is an area in which we can make real progress in the near-future. I am pleased that Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe TD, has introduced a tax disregard  in respect of personal income received by households who sell surplus electricity that they generate back to the grid. This will provide an important incentive to engage with microgeneration.

“Building on the success of previous budgets with regard to vehicle registration tax, Budget 2022 will see the introduction of a new VRT band table from January 2022.

“There will also be incentives to purchase electric vehicles, through the extension of the €5,000 relief for Battery Electric Vehicles to the end of 2023.”

Deputy Farrell added, “Young adults will benefit from a reduction in public transport fees which will not only make it cheaper for young people to get around the city but also incentivise the use of public transport which will result in lower carbon emissions.

“Fine Gael is committed to tackling climate change and this has been a key priority in the formulation of new policies while in Government. Young people in Ireland and around the world deserve a healthy and habitable planet and Fine Gael will continue to prioritise these efforts.”