Call for reversal of increased fuel charges facing Mayo motorists from tomorrow

Aontú leader and Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín has called on the government to reverse the planned increase in petrol and diesel at the pumps from tomorrow.

He stated: “This is the fourth increase in petrol and diesel in the last year.

"The government has increased petrol and diesel by 15 cents and 12 cents respectively over the last year.

"An Aontú parliamentary question earlier this year has shown that the government collected €3.8 billion in tax on fuel in 2023.

"This was the highest amount collected in over 10 years.

"The government is giving tea and sympathy to families in terms of the cost of living crisis while at the same time is increasing the price of fuel on top of already raking in record fuel taxes.

"Hard pressed drivers are being fleeced by this government.

“The government will say that they seek to change behaviour towards public transport.

"But the truth is for many many people there are no reliable public transport alternatives.

"In my own county of Meath 90,000 people commute every day. The vast majority of whom are forced to drive.

"We have been campaigning for decades for a train to ease the commuting burden on families. Yet government after government has refused to build it.

"For hundreds of thousands of commuters in this country, this latest fuel price increase will not be behaviour changing but rather a harsh punitive cost increase on their struggling incomes," he added.