'Cut to home heating oil already wiped out by rising prices'

Sinn Féin TD for Longford-Westmeath Sorca Clarke has called on TDs from all parties to back Sinn Féin’s motion to deliver a real meaningful cut in the price of home heating oil to put workers and families first this winter.

Deputy Clarke said that the €43 reduction on a 1,000-litre fill of home heating oil has already been wiped out as suppliers saw prices jump by €150 in the days immediately after the budget was announced.

Deputy Clarke said: “The cut to home heating oil announced on Budget Day has already been wiped out by rising prices. Home heating oil suppliers saw prices jump by €150 in the days immediately after the budget was announced. That impact is already being felt, with people now being quoted even higher prices for home heating oil.

“Sinn Féin is calling for the complete removal of carbon tax on home heating oil. We are once again bringing a motion before the Dáil calling on the Government to take real and meaningful action.

“Even before these latest increases, a €43 reduction on a 1,000-litre fill came nowhere near addressing the scale of this crisis. Families have seen the cost of filling their tanks rise by as much as €700.

“It makes a mockery of the Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael budget day spin that they were finally listening and understood the pressure on workers and families trying to fill the tank before winter.

“Since the beginning of this crisis, Sinn Féin has called for the complete removal of all carbon tax on home heating oil. We are again tabling a motion in the Dáil tomorrow calling on the Government to take this action.

“I am calling on TDs of all parties to send a message to Government by backing Sinn Féin’s motion for a meaningful cut in the price of home heating oil and to put workers and families first this winter.”