Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow, John Brady, has said that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael cannot continue to stand by while families across Wicklow are hit with massive increases in the cost of home heating oil.
His comments follow new data from the European Commission showing that Ireland has experienced the largest increase in home-heating oil prices anywhere in the EU, with a 27.3% rise in a single week – eight times the EU average.
Deputy Brady said the figures underline the urgent need for immediate action to protect households in Wicklow.
Teachta Brady said:
“Families right across Wicklow, from rural communities to towns and villages, are already under enormous pressure from the cost-of-living crisis. Now they are being hit with a staggering surge in heating oil prices that is far beyond anything seen across the rest of Europe.
“In just one week, the price of home heating oil here jumped by more than 27%, compared with an EU average increase of just over 3%. For many households in Wicklow, this means the cost of filling a tank has soared to nearly €1,800.
“These massive price hikes are simply unaffordable for many families, older people and workers who are already struggling to keep up with rising costs.”
Deputy Brady said the government must stop acting as a spectator and intervene immediately.
“Sinn Féin has introduced legislation – the Mineral Oil Tax (Emergency Cost of Living Reduction) Bill – to cut excise duties on petrol and diesel and bring real relief to households and workers.
“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael must also suspend planned carbon tax increases and cut VAT on home-heating oil in line with the lower 9% rate applied to electricity and gas.
“There must also be a full investigation into price gouging in the fuel market. If companies are exploiting an international crisis to boost profits while families in Wicklow struggle to heat their homes, that cannot be tolerated.
“Families across Wicklow cannot afford for Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and their Independent allies – including Tánaiste Simon Harris and Edward Timmins TD – to continue acting like spectators while households are hammered by rising energy costs.
“The government must act now to bring prices down and support families who are struggling to keep their homes warm.”
ENDS