Micheál Martin: Fuel Tax Cuts Extended to July
Micheál Martin announces a government package extending temporary reductions in exercise duty and mineral oil taxes on petrol, diesel and marked gas oil from the end of May to the end of July to help households and businesses facing energy price shocks. The package also postpones the May carbon tax increase until the October Budget and introduces targeted support for haulage, school transport, farming and fisheries.
Micheál Martin sets out immediate relief: a 10 cent per litre cut on petrol, 10 cent per litre on diesel and 2.4 cent per litre on marked gas oil, plus an extension of temporary duty reductions until the end of July. The government is also postponing the planned carbon tax rise from May to the Budget in October.
The package enhances transport support schemes for haulage operators and local school transport providers, and introduces a fuel subsidy support scheme for farming and fisheries. These targeted measures are designed to protect supply chains, rural incomes and essential services under pressure from global conflicts.
Micheál Martin emphasises that these steps respond to energy price shocks linked to conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East, and aim to protect households and businesses while allowing the state to continue investing in critical services. The measures are framed as a significant response to real, immediate pressures felt domestically and internationally.
The government will implement the temporary tax reductions and support schemes immediately, and will revisit carbon tax timing at the October Budget. The announcement signals both short-term relief and an ongoing commitment to balancing support for people with fiscal responsibilities.
Immediate measures
Micheál Martin sets out immediate relief: a 10 cent per litre cut on petrol, 10 cent per litre on diesel and 2.4 cent per litre on marked gas oil, plus an extension of temporary duty reductions until the end of July. The government is also postponing the planned carbon tax rise from May to the Budget in October.
Transport and rural supports
The package enhances transport support schemes for haulage operators and local school transport providers, and introduces a fuel subsidy support scheme for farming and fisheries. These targeted measures are designed to protect supply chains, rural incomes and essential services under pressure from global conflicts.
Why this matters
Micheál Martin emphasises that these steps respond to energy price shocks linked to conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East, and aim to protect households and businesses while allowing the state to continue investing in critical services. The measures are framed as a significant response to real, immediate pressures felt domestically and internationally.
Next steps
The government will implement the temporary tax reductions and support schemes immediately, and will revisit carbon tax timing at the October Budget. The announcement signals both short-term relief and an ongoing commitment to balancing support for people with fiscal responsibilities.
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Transcript
We've continued our programme of engagement with stakeholders and have been examining different ways of helping those worst impacted by this sudden increase in fuel prices. As a result of this, we have today agreed to further mitigate the impact on households and businesses enduring energy price shock arising from the conflict in the Middle East. Government is now extending the temporary measures to reduce exercise duty on petrol, diesel and marked gas oil from the end of May to the end of July. Further reducing mineral oil taxes, the government is by 10 cent per litre on petrol, 10 cent per litre on diesel and 2.4 cent per litre on marked gas oil. Postponing the increase in carbon tax from May until the budget in October, enhancing the transport support schemes for all haulage operators in the country, for local Lincoln School transport providers and some commercial operators, introducing a fuel subsidy support scheme for farming and fisheries. The government recognises and understands the pressures that have arisen due to rising fuel costs as a result of war in Ukraine and in the Middle East on all families and businesses. I'm very conscious of the fact that we have to ensure that we support people, protect key services and make critical investments. The package we have agreed today is a significant response to real pressures being felt here and globally.