How Mayo's 62% reliance on oil is paying for zero carbon emissions in Dublin
Mayo has a 62 per cent reliance on oil as an energy and is getting very little return from government levies paid in respect of the fuel.
That's according to Limerick Independent TD Richard O'Donoghue.
He called on the government to have a meeting with the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA).
He elaborated: "NORA has €300 million in reserve.
"That money comes from the two cent per litre of fuel which the government continues to collect from every Irish motorist and householder.
"It is the person who does not have access to regular, reliable and convenient public transport who must pay this levy.
"The person whose home has poor energy efficiency and which requires tens of thousands of euro to get it heat pump-ready is paying out.
"I am concerned about the impact of these measures on people in rural Ireland.
"I have a document showing certain statistics as they apply in different parts of the country. It shows that in Dublin, there is 10% reliance on oil products, while the figure for Limerick is 47%.
"Cork and Kildare both have a 40% reliance on oil, the figure for Roscommon, Carlow and Longford is 60% in each case, Mayo has a 62% reliance on oil, and the figure for Cavan-Monaghan is between 70% and 80%.
"The only place in the country that has reduced its emissions, because it has access to natural gas and other alternatives, is Dublin. That is being paid for by every motorist and householder outside of Dublin.
"We might ask how the people in rural Ireland are being rewarded for carrying the levy. Approximately 686,000 households in Ireland are dependent on oil because there is no available alternative.
"Some 50% of the energy produced in Ireland is not liable to any carbon tax and there is no climate action levy applicable to it.
"It is a fact that rural people use the most fuel but that is because they have no other option and they certainly are paying for it.
"How does the government expect to reduce carbon emissions if it will not talk to the oil companies?
"If I go to the petrol pump tomorrow morning, I will pay €61.30 tax on every €100 I spend. If I am to get to work, I must travel and for that I must use fuel.
"At the diesel pump I will pay €56.50 in tax. The government is rewarding people in rural Ireland with funding of €8.5 million for gas projects in Dublin, €20 million to Dublin City Council for heating schemes and €4.5 million for the Tallaght district heating scheme.
"The government needs to give people in rural Ireland their money back and help them to reduce their emissions by putting the necessary infrastructure in place.
"Rural Ireland is not willing to pay for Dublin to have zero emissions. We want zero emissions ourselves."