For students in Limerick, the rising cost of getting to college is becoming an increasingly difficult part of daily life, with bus fares and the cost of running a car putting pressure on already tight budgets.
The government previously cut excise duty on diesel by 32 cent per litre and petrol by 27 cent per litre in April, following protests over rising fuel costs. Those reductions were due to begin tapering off and expire across four dates from November 1.
The measures are now expected to be extended until March 1, offering motorists some continued relief at the pumps.
For commuters, however, rising transport costs remain a concern.
Limerick commuter, David Carey, called for “a stabilising of bus costs”, saying his daily fare has risen from €6, when he was in first year, to €11 today, almost double the price. He described the increase as “ridiculous” and fears fares could continue to climb.
“It will be €15 a day in two years’ time,” he said.
For students travelling longer distances, the cost of running a car is another major pressure. Law and Accounting student Evan O’Hare, who commutes from West Clare, said, “it is too expensive running a car in general in this country.”
He said the cost of filling his tank has risen to around €90 a week.
Final-year Business student, Joe Gavan, said he would like to see the fuel excise duty cut retained in the upcoming budget. He said fuel had become noticeably more expensive since the Green Party introduced reductions “about three years ago”, with prices rising again since then.
Carbon tax increases on heating paused
The government is also signalling that planned increases in the carbon tax on home heating oil and gas will be paused for the remainder of its term.
For households heating their homes with oil or gas, this means avoiding further carbon tax increases that would otherwise have pushed up heating costs.
The price that was due to increase to 71c will instead be reduced to 48c, with the change expected to save around €50 on the cost of refilling a 900-litre tank.
Support for farmers and hauliers
An extension of the fuel support scheme for farmers, hauliers and transport operators is also expected to be announced.
The measure is aimed at sectors particularly exposed to fuel costs, with further details on eligibility and payments expected to follow.
More than €650 million for home energy upgrades
More than €650 million in capital funding is expected for Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) supported home energy upgrades.
The package is set to include increased support for solar PV, new battery grants and a boiler scrappage scheme, alongside continued support for home energy-efficiency improvements.
The investment is intended to help households reduce their energy costs over the longer term by making homes more energy efficient and supporting the installation of renewable energy technologies.