Mayo councillor urges government to intervene on agri diesel price

THE government has been called on to intervene with a package to bring down the price of green agri diesel, which has jumped significantly with the energy crisis caused by the war in the Gulf.

Fianna Fáil Councillor Damien Ryan has sought an intervention similar to what has been applied to other fuel, describing agri diesel as being 'forgotten'.

Prior to the energy crisis, it was costing 98c/litre for agri diesel. The price today is between 165c and 175c.

While he welcomed the government's intervention on home heating oil and white diesel, and extension of the fuel allowance, agri diesel has been forgotten, he said.

This industry cannot be left behind. And it wasn't just about agriculture, but also other sectors such as quarries, he said.

The impact is driving prices up and the ability to deliver projects is huge, he told a municipal district meeting in Claremorris today. And there needs to be an intervention to deal with the massive spike in price.

The percentage increase is 'huge' and the consumer will pay, he added.

His formal call for intervention, to try and bring some certainty for the months ahead, was supported.

Councillor Richard Finn also noted that they had approved the road works programme today, but there were certain roads they probably won't be able to complete as we face a future of unknown around fuel prices and the production of the materials involved.

They were at the mercy of the world economy, war, and Mr. Trump himself, he noted.

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