A Local TD has called for government action to address rising costs of petrol and diesel.
Sinn Féin TD, Matt Carthy believes that families across the state are in "absolute shock" by rising costs.
Speaking in the Dáil yesterday, Deputy Carthy criticised the government's decision to "remove vital cost-of-living supports" in the previous budget.
He called for the government to support a Sinn Féin motion, which said that families have been hit by an "unrelenting cost-of-living crisis".
During his address in the Dáíl last night, the TD was highly critical of government policy.
Deputy Carthy said: "Of course, one of the reasons that the Government refuses to act is simple. Higher fuel costs are not an accident. They are Government policy.
"Since 2020, the cost of petrol, diesel and home heating oil has been permanently increased six times, not by Putin or Trump, but by Micheál Martin, Simon Harris, Eamon Ryan and, latterly, the Lowry and Healy-Rae Independents to such an extent that 65 cent of every euro now being paid at the pumps is going to the Exchequer.
"By the way, these same parties plan to increase these taxes four more times between now and 2030. When workers are struggling to fill their cars and heat their homes, the Government is deliberately driving these costs higher," Deputy Carthy added.
Meanwhile, energy supports set to be discussed next week will be "targeted, structured and sustainable" according to the Energy Minister.
Darragh O'Brien says measures will be brought to Cabinet on Tuesday to address spiralling costs for fuel and home heating oil.
He made the comments during Sinn Fein's motion in the Dai last night.
Minister O'Brien says they want to make sure they strike the right balance.
"We take this situation very seriously and that is why we will approach this situation in a serious and structured manner.
"We will bring forward supports next week for households and for businesses in a targeted, structured and sustainable way so we can continue to invest in things like home retrofitting and supports for small businesses, which [Sinn Féin's motion] would scrap," the Minister added.
