Cork protesters unhappy with fuel supports

Fuel protests continued in Cork on Monday as newly announced Government supports were described as not “next to near enough” for those impacted.

The nationwide fuel protest entered its seventh day, with several locations across Cork impacted by slow-moving convoys and up to 120 filling stations without fuel.

Protests were held in Cork city centre, Ringaskiddy, Ballincollig, Glanmire, Bandon, Midleton, Mallow, Youghal, and Macroom.

These protests came following the convening of an emergency Cabinet meeting on Sunday, which resulted in four key additional supports. These included further reductions to mineral oil tax rates; seeing excise on petrol and diesel reduced by 10c per litre and green diesel reduced by 2.4c per litre; the increase in carbon tax postponed until October; the announcement of an enhanced transport support scheme for haulage operators, local links, and school transport providers; and the introduction of a fuel subsidy support scheme for farming and fisheries.

No point

Speaking to The Echo, contractor Finbarr O’Mahony, who was among protesters at Shannonpark Roundabout in Ringaskiddy yesterday, said there is “no point” in introducing these measures.

“We had a hard week last week, everybody protesting all over the country had a hard week last week,” said Mr O’Mahony.

“I don’t know who’s fighting for who anymore. It’s worse it’s getting.

“There isn’t much point in giving the hauliers 10c, including Vat, and giving us 2.4c, including Vat, because the price of diesel has gone up about 25c a litre since we started this protest last week.”

Additionally, a protester who wished to remain anonymous, who was among those blockading the Irving Oil Refinery in Whitegate last week, said they do not think “anybody is happy with the Government’s announcement”.

“I don’t think it’s next to near enough — other European countries have capped their fuel, so I don’t see why we don’t have something like that too,” they said.

Concern

Meanwhile, several charities across Cork have voiced concern that ongoing fuel scarcity and increased fuel prices are crippling the sector, and will lead to further impacts to service users.

Jackie Fitzgibbon, co-ordinator of Friendly Call Cork, said rising fuel costs have significantly impacted the charity.

“I know there’s been a bit of an extension to the fuel allowance, but really it doesn’t touch the costs people are seeing,” said Ms Fitzgibbon.

“Our minibus is heavy enough on diesel as it is, but we would have seen a rise of about 20% in the past few weeks.”

Denis Toomey, chairperson of Red Cross Kinsale, said if prices do not come down, the organisation will have to start upping charges to service users.

“If fuel prices don’t come down, I would imagine we’ll have to pass that additional cost along, unfortunately,” said Mr Toomey.

The national co-ordinator for Meals on Wheels, Tracey Noone, has said that depending on developments in relation to the protests, some providers will have to move from a five-day delivery service to a three-day service.

Ms Noone said that other providers will be asking chefs to be more creative with ingredients if stock deliveries are affected.