As protests against the price of fuel continue around Ireland, fuel shortages have hit petrol stations in County Limerick.
Limerick Voice spoke with residents in Castletroy about the ongoing protests and fuel shortages.
One manager at a local petrol station said, “I was on the phone with Maxol this morning, and there’s nothing they can do for me.”
Over the course of an hour, Limerick Voice saw pumps dry up.
One woman said “I am very concerned about the future of the issue as the protests are getting bigger and bigger while the price keeps going up.”
A major oil depot in Foynes has been blocked by protesters for the past two days in a move that Taoiseach Micheál Martin labelled “national sabotage.”
This blockage has prevented petrol stations across the Mid-West from accessing deliveries.
The CEO of Fuels for Ireland Kevin McPartlan Spoke on RTE Drivetime saying, “what they are actually doing now is blocking other people from having that essential resource, fuel. I fully appreciate that people have the right to protest and that the Gardaí have an obligation to vindicate that right, but it must be balanced.”
The People of Ireland Against Fuel Prices has confirmed that the protest will continue today, Friday, 10 April.
The Irish army will be involved in assisting An Garda Síochána in the recovery of heavy vehicles.
Fortunately, the HSE Midwest said the services in its acute hospitals continue to operate as normal.
The hospitals said they are aware of patients who are experiencing delays due to traffic congestion and they are encouraged to attend their appointments or reschedule for the earliest available date.
Residents in Castletroy are frustrated but not confused with the ongoing issue, and much of their frustration was not pointed at the protestors, but the government’s lack of action so far.
Georgia, a working professional who recently graduated, said, “the cost of fuel has risen an extra €30-40 a week and it doesn’t reflect in wages at all.”
David, who also graduated last year, felt the same way saying that “it’s hard not to feel stressed seeing the prices increase day by day.”
Both agreed with the protestors, with David saying “I think it’s a good idea [protestors blocking roads and fuel depots] because the government weren’t doing anything about it, you could see the 20c tax decrease on the litre a couple of weeks ago but the price is back up again… people are struggling and the government need to see it.”
There was mixed response at the future of the issue with one woman saying, “of course I am concerned about the future of the issue, it feels like you’re under the control of others who have their own agenda and nothing to do with us.”
Georgia and David both said “we have seen similar issues during the start of Covid and the war in Ukraine, I think it will work itself out.”
Limerick Voice spoke with a bus driver leaving the depot in Roxboro, who said that although the city buses in Limerick are electric, they are still facing delays. “You’re getting absolutely hammered, in the morning you’re getting delayed by almost an hour and a half due to the protests.”
With protests set to continue today, and fuel supplies running low across the county, this remains a developing story.