The Irish government is reportedly planning to pause the carbon tax on home heating oil for the rest of its term, with a similar move considered for gas. Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the Budget's main focus is easing cost-of-living pressure on households, and he did not rule out energy credits. The pause would temporarily stop scheduled increases on fossil heating fuels, making oil and gas cheaper in the short term. Critics, including the Social Democrats, warn it weakens the carbon price signal that pushes households toward heat pumps and retrofits. Supporters argue it protects households from high energy costs during a tight budget. The final decision lands in Budget 2027. The key detail to watch is whether the pause comes with separate support for home upgrades, or just lowers the cost of staying on fossil fuel heating.
