The cost of living is going through the roof and in particular diesel and petrol prices seem to be rising at an alarming rate. As policy makers, I believe it is incumbent on us to move with the times and ensure we provide solutions to the growing concerns of the general public.
I have often raised the need for a reliable Park & Ride to operate on the west of the city and further out into the surrounding towns and villages of county Galway. I am again calling on the executive and the Government to take this seriously and look at the possibility of rolling this out as a matter or urgency.
We should not have to wait until Christmas to provide an effective alternative travel option for people. At local level, we need to lead out on this rather than wait for direction from a new Government department set up to look at Park and Ride.
Record high fuel prices
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We are now seeing record high fuel prices in this country. It is very worrying for everyone, but especially lower-income families in rural areas who are unsure whether they will be able to afford fuel for their cars, or even heat their home.
This is the reality for so many people who are not in a bubble in Dublin, this is the reality for so many ordinary people the length and breadth of this country. People in rural Ireland rely on their cars as they don’t have the public transport infrastructure to support their daily lives. It is just not possible.
I fear that these growing fuel costs will alienate the people of rural Galway from the city where so many do business and visit family and friends.
Period of isolation
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Cllr Mike Cubbard. Photo:- Mike Shaughnessy
We have just tip-toed out of a period of untold isolation and loneliness for so many people due to Covid-19, yet here we are now sprinting into another period where the ever-growing fuel costs are going to force people to stay home.
The costs are rising day by day. It is becoming more expensive and more difficult to heat our homes, it is becoming a decision that all too many have to make in terms of putting fuel in their car to travel to work, school, college or simple tasks such as grocery shopping or indeed to buy fuel to be able to have warmth in their home on a cold evening.
We are in an energy crisis and it is past time we implemented measures under our remit at local level but equally those in Dublin sat up and took note of the reality across the country and in particular in rural Ireland where they are steering into another period of isolation.
Cost of living
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Currently, the government are raking in about 60 per cent of all petrol and diesel via taxes (excise, carbon tax and vat ). The EU commission have given leeway to each member state to reduce taxes on fuels where they deem appropriate, yet Ireland has not acted on this while countries like Spain and France have reduced energy taxes.
I read with interest that An Taoiseach noted this rise in the cost of living being medium term. If this is to be the case, I believe our Government and those elected to represent the ordinary people of Ireland should now stand up and offer some solace to those living with unthinkable decisions as mentioned and reduce some of the excise, carbon tax and VAT on fuel for the reminder of 2022.
A move like this could well save each motorist between .45 and .60 cent per litre but in terms of the economy, actually work in its favor as it will help ensure people continue to move around freely without the worry of a cold home that evening.
