HARD-pressed Donegal families filling up their cars this weekend have been hit with yet another rise in prices.
Diesel has risen by up to 5c per litre on some forecourts, with petrol also going up, although not at the same rate.
Prices varied in a donegaldaily.com survey from €1.45.9c per litre to €1.49.9c per litre for diesel.
Petrol prices varied from €1.47.9c per litre to €1.53.9c.
Some of the price rises are being driven by international markets, whilst others are simple profiteering on behalf of some garages.
Several outlets continue to keep prices relatively low however – one garage in Kilmacrennan last night had diesel at €1.43.9 and petrol at €1.45.9.
In Co Cavan yesterday for example one forecourt was charging an outrageous €1.66.9c for a litre of petrol.
The relentless increase in prices means the average family is splashing out €226 per car per month on fuel. That’s €30 more than last October.
It means families with two cars are spending around €450 per month just filling up their vehicles.
An incredible 57% of the price of your fuel is now taken in Government taxes.
Conor Faughnan, the director of policy at the AA, said it was tax rises and not the rise in oil prices which is hitting motorists.
“Oil prices are not at record highs,” he said.
“It is only $120 per barrel now compared to a record high of $150 per barrel three years ago.
“The difference between then and now is the tax.”
He advised motorists to buy fuel by the litre, and not by the euro – to slow down to conserve petrol or diesel.
The latest rises come at a time when the Credit Union warned that almost million people in Ireland are living at poverty levels.
A survey found 250,000 people were broke after paying basic bills. A further 735,000 people have as little as €70 left at the end of each month after paying their bills.
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