OPINION: Prices at the pump fuel discontent

Mary Dolan, Corlough:

“It’s hitting people who are out working the hardest. I spend €70 on diesel a week travelling from Corlough to Cootehill. I drive a 1.9 litre car, so it will cost at least €80 a week [after the price rise].

“I have to pay a mortgage and feed three children, so I have no choice but to take the hit. It’s crazy, it’s very unfair to the working classes, especially when coupled with energy bills, groceries, getting kids back to school, and general rise of cost of living. We are getting free books, but still have to buy uniforms and shoes, which can be very expensive.”

John O’Reilly,

Kilnaleck:

“The cheapest I’ve seen is 1.68(c/l) for diesel. Everyone around Cavan has jacked up the price as a result of the tax. A lot of them would have gotten their deliveries in before the increase, so they’re passing on the price increase without any justification. They’re jumping the gun. I saw €1.79 at a pump recently. In the 10 days before the hike, the price had been creeping up, but the additional increase is a joke.

“I’m retired now so I don’t do as much driving as I used to, but a lot of people from Kilnaleck drive to Dublin every day and they’ll suffer from the increase, especially when you factor in things like tolls.

“We did receive a €200 credit for electricity bills a few months ago but I don’t know how some of the companies who are producing green energy from wind were able to justify the same increase as those who were burning fossil fuels. Nobody is challenging them on this.”

Lidia McCarron, Belturbet:

“I’m glad I have an electric vehicle. My husband drives a diesel car and he’s not very happy. We switched one of the cars to electric because we couldn’t afford two diesel vehicles.

“Public charge points are more expensive than a diesel car, it’s unaffordable unless you have a home charging point. Even with the electricity price rise, it’s still €50 cheaper a week to drive the electric car. I’d drive 60km a day to work.”

Matt Boylan, Ballyjameduff:

“It’s payback time after the excise duty was taken off and it still has to go up again in October. I got €90 to fill my car up today, but beforehand it would cost a lot less than this. I’m retired so I don’t do a lot of driving every week, most of it is going up and down to Dublin to see my grandchildren. In the last two weeks, I’ve spent €150 on diesel, which is a lot.”

Khairol Razali, Cavan:

“I just drive around Cavan Town every week so the changes don’t have a massive impact on me. I still think the changes are ridiculous, because it all adds up. I only fill the car up every few weeks but, if I’m going to Dublin, I take the bus. It’s not worth driving to Dublin, it’s just too expensive. I can walk to the bus or get someone to drop me off. It’s a small car, I’ve considered getting a bigger car, but it wouldn’t be economical for me.”

Michael McKeown, Dublin:

“What the government has done is crazy, not just with diesel, but also with the VAT on the hospitality sector. We’re only just getting back on our feet. You hear about the returns that the government are after getting from the exchequer, it’s mind-boggling, especially if they want people to spend more. People already have less money in their pockets, now there will be even less again. I don’t know how they hope to keep the economy going.

“The cost keeps on being passed on to consumers. I don’t know why they don’t just leave the normal guy alone for once. If they’re trying to control inflation, then I think they’re going the wrong way about it, unless they have a brilliant plan, of which we’re yet to see the results.

“I filled up on diesel before the hike so I’m yet to see the impact.

“The market is still very volatile. Are they going to wait until the prices go back up to €2 a litre again and then take the excise duty off again? Why not let it ride and then see what happens in a month or two? I spend €100 a week already on diesel, so it’ll go up to €110 or €115. I do a lot of driving for business.”