Fuel price hikes slated by Roscommon TD

The excise duty increase on fuel, the second in three months, which has seen petrol rise by 4c per litre and diesel rise by 3c per litre, has been sharply criticised by Sinn Fein TD Claire Kerrane.

“Motorists in Roscommon and Galway are already under huge pressure from unaffordable costs due to the cost of living crisis,” said Deputy Kerrane.

“Government owe people an explanation about why, in the middle of a cost of living crisis, they are happy to sit back and watch as another excise duty increase hits workers and families.

“This Government 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.

“Many people in Roscommon and Galway 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,” said Deputy Kerrane.

“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 three 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,” she said.