Kilkenny TD calls on government to scrap Fuel Tax hikes

Sinn Féin’s Kathleen Funchion has called on the government to implement Sinn Féin’s proposal to scrap plans for further tax hikes on petrol and diesel this year.

The Kilkenny TD was speaking as the price of petrol and diesel rose sharply this month, with fears prices could reach €2 per litre.

Deputy Funchion said: 

“Households continue to struggle under the cost of living crisis.

“In recent days the AA have announced that petrol and diesel prices rose again sharply this month, with fears the cost of fuel could soon rise to €2 per litre.

“At the beginning of April, the government hiked the price of fuel for households and plans to do the same again in August and October.

“Instead of focusing all its efforts on reducing living costs, this government seems determined to increase them.

“If the government presses ahead with these tax hikes, Irish households will face among the highest fuel prices in Europe.

“Petrol prices will have risen by at least 10 cent per litre, with diesel prices set to rise by at least 8 cents per litre.

“Fuel prices have risen by more than 30 percent in the past three years – making the cost of travel even more expensive at this time is the wrong call.

“But this government is clearly out of touch with the financial pressures so many people are facing.

“It is time for the government to heed Sinn Féin’s call and scrap their planned tax hikes on petrol and diesel this year.”