Govt must explain fuel price hikes — Kildare TD
Photo for illustrative purposes
The government has been called to explain the recent price hike at the petrol pumps by local Sinn Féin TD Patricia Ryan.
The deputy has called on government TDs to explain the excise duty increase facing motorists on 1 August. This increase – the second in three months – will see petrol rise by 4c per litre and diesel rise by 3c per litre.
Deputy Ryan said: “Motorists in Kildare already under huge pressure from unaffordable costs due to the cost of living crisis. My constituency, Kildare South, is a very rural county, with very poor public transport links – people have to drive, and these increases are pushing them to the brink!!
“This government’s TD in South Kildare, Martin Heydon owes the people in South Kildare an explanation about why, in the middle of a cost of living crisis, he is happy to sit back and watch as another excise duty increase hits workers and families.
“Many people in in this county have no choice but to use their cars. Government have failed to put in place adequate public transport services to serve as a realistic or reliable alternative.
“This government has already introduced a hike in April which saw a rise in petrol by 4c per litre, and a 3c per litre rise in diesel. In the space of barely three months, that means motorists have seen their fuel increase by 8c and 6c per litre respectively. And to bring them in when families are faced with the extra financial pressures of getting their children ready to go back to school adds insult to injury!!
“To expect people to take these increases on the chin just shows how out of touch this government is with workers and families who are struggling with unaffordable costs.
“In April, Sinn Féin urged the government to save the public from these increases. Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Greens simply refused to listen.
“Fuel costs are already 30% higher than they were 3 years ago – which means the government’s overall tax take is 30% higher.
“What we need here is a common-sense approach towards these increases, and common sense will tell you it simply shouldn’t go ahead.
“If this government is insisting on pushing ahead with these increases, their TDs must explain why to people in (county) who will be paying the price for their actions.”
