Councillors call for government supports amid rising price of oil

CARLOW county councillors have called on the government to provide additional supports for households and businesses struggling with the rising cost of heating oil after a motion on the issue was passed at a recent council meeting.

Cllr John Cassin, who proposed the motion, said the cost of heating oil had climbed sharply in recent weeks. “You can see the increase in fuel prices at the moment. It’s gone past €2.05 to €2.10 euros per litre of heating oil in some places. Coming into the winter months, it’s getting more expensive for people to put it into their tanks.” 

He acknowledged that the government’s existing 35% reduction in taxes on fuel had helped soften the blow but warned that prices would be far higher without it. 

“While we appreciate that there’s some support from central government with the 35% reduction in taxes – if that reduction wasn’t there, it could be very easy up to nearly €2.50, €2.40, €2.50 a litre in some cases but there’s a lot of people under pressure. Schools, hospitals, other areas of the public sector and rural areas where people don’t have the option of gas or natural gas.” 

Cllr Cassin appealed directly to government colleagues on the council to raise the issue with the relevant minister. “We’re looking for support on this motion and particularly our government colleagues here to call on their minister and look for extra supports for those who are completely relying on fuel. It’s not a luxury, it’s a necessity.” 

Cllr Charlie Murphy backed the motion, pointing out that “some products are double what they were before covid”. He said something “badly needs to be done” and suggested a cap on the revenue government takes in as fuel prices rise, arguing: “Every time fuel goes up, there’s a bonanza for the government.” 

Cllr Michael Doran also supported the motion, welcoming the government’s current measures but cautioning that they amounted to a temporary fix. “It’s very welcome what the government is doing and to keep that up. But this is really only a stop gap thing as we move forward, particularly with the uncertainty around the world at the moment.” 

He warned that oil prices could rise significantly in the years ahead if global instability continued. “Oil prices are going to rocket up over the next five to ten years if geopolitically things don’t settle down.” 

Cllr Doran pointed to discussions the council had already had around alternative energy projects, including two proposed bio plants, as part of the longer-term solution. “We do have to refocus the fact that alternative energy is where we have to go, not just because of the prices and use of fossil fuels, but I think we’re going to have many more of these debates in the future.”