Petrol and diesel prices in Kilkenny to rise by 15c and 12c as Govt accused of 'punishing' drivers

Kilkenny motorists will feel the pinch in their pocket again this year with petrol and diesel prices expected to rise on four separate occasions.

The changes will add around 12c to a litre of diesel and 15c to the cost of a litre of petrol, according to Friday's Irish Independent. It comes amid claims the Government are "punishing" drivers.

After Budget intervention halted excise hikes, motorists got a slight reprieve as prices stalled after surpassing €2 per litre. However, the Taoiseach has now said there are no plans this year to stop planned excise hikes.

“They were temporary and there to reflect the fact that petrol and diesel prices had exceeded €2 a litre at one stage so Minister McGrath set out in the Budget how those excise duty cuts would end, and there is no change to that and it will be as it was set out in the Budget,” Mr Varadkar said after jetting off to Washington to meet US President Joe Biden for St Patrick's Day.

5c on the price of petrol and 4c on diesel will be added at the end of next month while prices will rise again in August, October and next January - four hikes within a year.

The overall price difference is expected to be 15c on a litre of petrol and 12c on a litre of diesel.

Michael Kilcoyne, chair of the Consumers’ Association of Ireland said the hikes are "just punishing motorists" and increasing the cost of living. He noted that fuel prices impact the price of other goods and services.

He has said Minister for Finance Michael McGrath should postpone the next two fuel price hikes.