Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Heating oil prices have gone up by 29% - almost one third - in the past 12 months. It will cost householders an extra €160 for each fill of a 1,000 litre tank. It is recognised that it takes two fills to do a home for one year, so this is an increase of €320. Ireland's heating oil costs are four times more expensive than in the North of Ireland due to higher levies, taxes and carbon tax. Petrol prices here are up 11% and diesel is up by 14%. The Government has room for manoeuvre in this. We know that the price of a barrel of oil has increased, but in line with this increase the Government's take in taxes, levies and carbon tax has also increased. I ask that the Government forgoes some of that increase in the budget to give poorer people a chance to heat themselves. On top of this the Government is trying to stop people from cutting turf. Does the Government want people to perish with the cold?

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