Written answers

Tuesday, 4 October 2005

Department of Agriculture and Food

Motor Fuels

9:00 pm

Photo of Dan BoyleDan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 187: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the advice she will give farmers faced with a further substantial rise in diesel prices over the summer on top of an increase of more than 30% in 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26470/05]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The price of gas oil, which includes agricultural diesel, as measured by the Central Statistics Office wholesale price index shows that gas oil increased by 11.1% in 2004 and by 22% to the end of August of this year. The CSO data shows that the price of gas oil increased by 30.2% in the 12 months from August 2004 to August 2005. The CSO agricultural price index indicates that the cost of motor fuels in agricultural inputs increased by approximately 15% over the 12 months to July 2005.

The CSO output, input and income in agriculture release also shows that the category fuel and lubricants accounts for approximately 7% of intermediate consumption which, although significant, means these increases have had a relatively limited direct impact on the overall cost of agricultural inputs.

The cost of fuel and energy products is driven by international oil prices. This is an issue for all parts of the economy including the agricultural sector. Rising input costs, and fluctuations in international oil prices, underline the importance of ensuring that all inputs are used efficiently.

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