Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The planned increases on taxing fuel are not sensible or fair. Fuel prices have risen a staggering 30% over the past three years. If the Government proceeds with its proposals, these tax hikes will result in Irish households paying among the highest prices for fuel in Europe. Once again, Ireland is an outlier for all the wrong reasons and the Government has done absolutely nothing to get to grips with this situation. Now is not the time to heap more pressures on ordinary workers and families who have been absolutely crippled under the weight of the cost-of-living crisis. The Government’s punitive approach is completely out of touch. Once again, it has shown a complete lack of common sense and flexibility. It is only too happy to let certain groups suffer while others get off relatively easy. After all, we know these fuel price hikes will disproportionately hurt marginalised groups. As Deputy Doherty noted, research from TCD and UCD has shown that rural households, which are already at transport disadvantage, are more likely to be socioeconomically deprived and have the highest level of forced car ownership. The concept of transport poverty is a real thing and the Minister is adding to that burden with these measures.

The reality is that public transport links in rural Ireland are completely underfunded and underdeveloped. This Government has completely failed to treat them as a priority. In my home county, there is no rail service to Navan. There are two tolls on our motorways and the toll on the M3 is increasing. Therefore some of the areas most at risk of fuel price rises are hit hardest because people living in them have no choice but to use their cars. Instead of a just transition, rural low-income households are simply being left behind. The Minister has the opportunity to do the right thing tonight. I urge him and all other Deputies to do that.

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