Soaring fuel costs

Sinn Féin TD Pauline Tully has warned that rising fuel and energy costs are placing an unacceptable burden on households, carers and small businesses.

Speaking in the Seanad, Senator Tully said older people and people with disabilities could be “forced to live in one room because that is all they can afford to heat” as winter approaches. “That should not be happening."

She highlighted the difficulties facing rural carers and families dependent on cars due to limited public transport, saying fuel prices had risen “way over the €2 mark and up to €2.20”, driving up transportation, production and shopping costs.

Ms Tully described the fact that more than 300,000 people could not afford their electricity bills as “an absolute disgrace”. Filling a kerosene tank could cost up to €1,600, nearly twice the price of the previous year.

In her opinion, the Road Transport Support Scheme doesn't reach far enough either, highlighting the plight of a small business owner operating 10 vans and employing 30 people, whose monthly fuel bill had increased by between €1,500 and €2,000 since March. His vehicles are ineligible for the scheme because they weigh less than 3.4 tonnes. “He cannot afford that,” she said, warning that businesses could be forced to lay off workers without further supports.

Ms Tully also criticised the Government’s record on renewable energy, calling for greater investment in wind, solar and wave power.

Responding, Minister of State Alan Dillon said the Government had introduced more than €1.4 billion in fuel supports and allocated over €640 million for residential and community energy grants in Budget 2026.