Solid Fuel Merchants Ireland

07/10/2026

Why are 200,000+ solid fuel households being left out?

Budget 2027 recognises that families are struggling with the cost of heating their homes.

✅ Carbon Tax on home heating oil reduced
✅ Carbon Tax relief for gas households
✅ Further increases on oil and gas paused until 2030
✅ Fuel Allowance increased by €5 per week

SFMI welcomes these measures.

But where is the equivalent Carbon Tax relief for the 200,000+ households that rely on solid fuel as their primary source of heating?

Instead of a reduction, solid fuel is facing a 23.6% Carbon Tax increase next May, from €63.50 to €78.50 per tonne of CO₂.

Many of these households are in rural Ireland, living in older homes with limited or unaffordable alternatives to their existing heating systems.

We are not asking Government to take relief away from anybody.
We are asking why solid fuel households have been left out.

🔥 If Carbon Tax relief is justified for a family filling an oil tank, why isn't it justified for a family buying a bag of fuel to heat their home?

200,000+ households deserve an answer.

06/10/2026

Budget 2027 Reaction: Solid Fuel Merchants Ireland (SFMI) has welcomed confirmation that there will be no increase in Solid Fuel Carbon Tax this month, but warned that a significant double increase now scheduled for May 2027 will have major implications for retailers and households reliant on solid fuel.

Solid Fuel Merchants Ireland (SFMI), the representative body for Ireland’s solid fuel retailers, has welcomed measures in Budget 2027 to ease home heating costs, including relief for households reliant on home heating oil and an increase in the Fuel Allowance, but has questioned why more than 200,...

24/09/2026

Home heating is the number one priority for voters ahead of Budget 2027.

Yet as Government considers specific measures to reduce the cost of home-heating oil, more than 200,000 Irish households who rely on solid fuel as their main source of heating cannot be forgotten. The CSO reports that 12% use solid fuel as their main heating fuel.

These are households too. They are families, older people and rural communities who face the same pressures of keeping their homes warm this winter.

If Government acts on home-heating costs, it must act fairly.

🔥 Budget 2027 must support ALL home-heating households — including those who rely on solid fuel.



Fine Gael Fianna Fáil Sinn Féin Ireland Social Democrats Green Party Ireland Labour Party Independent Ireland

21/09/2026

21/09/2026

Where is the discussion about the carbon tax already being lost through the illegal solid fuel trade?

Legitimate solid fuel merchants across Ireland collect and pay the taxes due, comply with increasingly stringent regulations and sell approved fuels from registered sources.

Yet they continue to be undercut by illegal and non-compliant traders operating outside the system.

Every tonne of taxable solid fuel sold illegally isn't just unfair competition for a legitimate local business — it potentially represents tax revenue lost to the State.

At a time when concerns are being raised about the funding available for energy-efficiency and SEAI schemes, Government cannot ignore revenue leakage from the illegal fuel market.

Our members are tax-paying, law-abiding businesses. More and more are finding it increasingly difficult to compete against operators who don't play by the same rules.

Protect legitimate merchants. Protect Exchequer revenue. Tackle the illegal fuel trade.

The Government is considering delaying an increase in the carbon tax, which is used to fund SEAI grants.

18/09/2026

BUDGET 2027 | SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL FUEL MERCHANT

Why should TDs and Senators support Ireland’s local solid fuel merchants?

🏠 We are on the frontline of fuel poverty
Local merchants know their customers and often provide flexibility and credit when households are struggling to heat their homes.

✅ We sell approved, compliant fuel
Responsible merchants source their products from reputable suppliers and operate within Ireland’s solid fuel regulations.

💶 We pay our taxes and comply with the rules
Legitimate merchants contribute to the Exchequer, sustain local employment and support their local economies.

🚚 We provide an essential local service
For many rural, older and vulnerable households, the local fuel merchant remains a vital part of keeping their home warm.

🤝 We support fair enforcement
Compliant businesses should not be undercut by illegal operators selling cheaper, non-compliant fuel.

Ahead of Budget 2027, SFMI is asking TDs and Senators to stand behind the responsible local businesses serving communities across Ireland.

Support your local fuel merchant.

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17/09/2026

Great to have Ryan O'Meara TD with us this morning for our Pre-Budget 2027 briefing in Dublin. Thank you for your continued support.

17/09/2026

Thank you to John McGuinness TD for joining us today at our Budget 2027 Briefing.

17/09/2026

Thank you to Minister Charlie McConalogue for dropping by our briefing today.

17/09/2026

Thank you Senator Mark Duffy for joining us this morning.