Sinn Féin motion on fuel costs to be debated in Dáil today, says Deputy Sorca Clarke

Sinn Féin motion on fuel costs to be debated in Dáil this week, says Deputy Sorca Clarke

Sinn Féin TD for Longford Westmeath, Sorca Clarke, has confirmed that Sinn Féin will bring a motion before the Dáil this week demanding urgent action to tackle the soaring cost of home heating oil, petrol and diesel.

The Private Members motion, which will be debated on Wednesday, calls on the government to immediately intervene to reduce fuel prices and scrap planned tax increases on home heating oil.

Deputy Clarke said: “Workers and families have been struggling through an unrelenting cost of living crisis and the rapid rise in the cost of petrol, diesel and home heating oil is making an already difficult situation far worse.

“Households are under enormous pressure and yet FF and FG continue to sit on their hands while costs spiral. Record numbers of households are already struggling to pay their energy bills, hundreds of thousands are in arrears and many more on the brink. The number of people at risk of poverty has also increased. In that context the government’s failure to act on soaring fuel costs is unacceptable.”

The SF motion calls on the government to scrap planned tax increases on home heating oil, due to take effect on 1 May, and to reduce the cost of petrol, diesel and home heating oil by implementing Sinn Féin’s Mineral Oil Tax (Emergency Cost of Living Reduction) Bill 2026.

Deputy Clarke said the debate will allow TDs to decide whether they stand with struggling households or with a government refusing to act.

The bill demands that Dáil Éireann recognise (among other factors):

• The government have failed to act to end the rip off and get prices under control.

• The turmoil in international energy markets as a result of the unjustified attacks on Iran is compounding an existing cost of living crisis and risks causing severe hardship for many people.

• Inflation was running far above government projections even before the most recent shock in energy markets.

• ● Immediately reduce the cost of petrol, diesel and home heating oil by implementing Sinn Féin’s Mineral Oil Tax (Emergency Cost of Living Reduction) Bill 2026.

• Record levels of people were already unable to pay their electricity with 319,459 in arrears and 1 in 4 people unable to pay their gas bills. With many more struggling to keep from falling behind.

• The number of people at risk of poverty increased in 2025.

• That the government got it badly wrong when they decided to withdraw cost of living supports.

Notes with concern that:

• In this context the rapid rise in the price of petrol and diesel and home heating oil has placed more pressure on workers and families.

• The government has legislated to increase the price of Home Heating Oil in a matter of weeks.

Calls on the government to:

• Scrap plans to increase taxes on home heating oil on the 1st of May.