Commenting on the continuing fuel crisis Aontú leader and Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín stated:
Aontú was the first party to call for the cuts in fuel taxes in this current crisis. We have been highlighting for years that the government is gauging of the people on fuel taxes. Our PQs showed that the government collected €4.1bn in fuel taxes in 2024 and that the amount of Carbon being collected has topped €1bn.
The announced cuts simply do not bring the cost of fuel down to where it was at the end of February. The government has announced a 22c cut on diesel despite the fact that it has increased by 50c. Petrol will be cut by 17c despite the fact that it has increased by 25c. There is very little for families dependent on home heating oil. They have been left out in the cold. My worry on this is that due to wholesale price volatility, we are likely to see further price increases and the government will say that they have already moved.
We believe that the government is overestimating the cost to the state of their plans. It is estimated that the government have already collected an extra €140m on extra fuel taxes since the start of this crisis. The government are already quids in on the hardship of the people. The increase in Carbon taxes this year is forecast to take in an extra €163 million. Between the windfall in fuel taxes in the last few weeks and the extra Carbon taxes this year the government is likely to collect an extra 300m in fuel taxes this year. Remember the government still seek to raise Carbon Taxes at the start of May. The government have stated that their package will cost €235m. That means that the government are still likely to see a net gain in fuel taxes at a time of real hardship for people.
There are still questions as to why the government is charging fuel taxes on the bioethanol and biodiesel component of petrol and diesel. And why is the government allowing the cost of HVO to increase when it is a vegetable based fuel that is not effected by the strait of Hormuz.
Aontú is calling for the May increased in Carbon tax to be scrapped, and we are calling for a further 17 cent Carbon tax cut on diesel and a 5 cent cut in Carbon Tax on petrol. We seek a cut o f15 cent a litre in Carbon tax on home heating oil. We are calling for a scrapping of the M50 toll and a significant investment in bus and rail capacity.
