Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 April 2026
253. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to urgently address the fuel crisis and rising fuel costs, which are causing fuel poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26894/26]
View answerOver the last number of weeks Government has intervened to help ease some of the burden of rising energy prices, with two packages of measures worth over €750 million.
The first package of measures, introduced at the end of March, reduced excise on fuel, cut the NORA levy to a nominal amount and enhanced the diesel rebate scheme.
To further support households, Government has extended the fuel allowance season by an additional four weeks. This means that 470,000 households will receive additional financial support of €38 per week, totalling €152.
The second package of measures, introduced earlier in April, included a further cut in the excise duty on fuel, which brings the total reduction in diesel to 32 cent per litre and 27 cent per litre for petrol. Government is further reducing excise on green diesel, bringing the total reduction to 7.4 cent per litre. These reduced amounts include the reduction in the NORA levy which was reduced by 2 cent per litre on each fuel as part of the first package of measures.
Government is delaying the carbon tax increase scheduled for May until later in the year and will introduce support schemes targeted at the agricultural and transport sectors.
It is important to note that this package of measures is deliberately time-bound and targeted. Government will continue to assess the situation as it develops and adjust its response as appropriate.
It is because of this Government’s record of solid budgetary management that we now have the capacity to respond to this energy price shock. However, this also underscores why we must maintain a balanced and sustainable approach to overall fiscal policy.
That is why we are continuing to target budgetary surpluses over the medium term and why we are continuing to set aside a portion of windfall corporation tax receipts into our long-term savings funds. This gives us the capacity to respond, swiftly and forcefully, to future challenges.
This is a deeply uncertain time for our economy, but, as my Department’s projections, published today in the Annual Progress Report show, we are approaching the challenges ahead from a position of strength.
