‘Simply unacceptable’: Demands for action in Kilkenny as fuel price rises continue

Petrol and diesel have seen their largest price hikes since 2022

Published 19th Mar 2026, 15:00 BST Petrol and diesel have seen their largest price hikes since 2022 Sign up to our Kilkenny Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Kilkenny Live within your account.

Sinn Féin TD for Carlow/ Kilkenny , Natasha Newsome Drennan, has confirmed that her party will bring a motion before the Dáil this week demanding action to tackle the soaring cost of home heating oil, petrol and diesel.

The Private Members’ motion, which will be debated on Wednesday, calls on the Government to immediately intervene to reduce fuel prices and scrap planned tax increases on home heating oil.

Deputy Newsome Drennan said the debate will give Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael an opportunity to act to protect workers and families facing severe financial pressure.

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“Workers and families have been struggling through an unrelenting cost-of-living crisis and the rapid rise in the cost of petrol, diesel and home heating oil is making an already difficult situation far worse,” she outlined.

“Households across Kilkenny and Carlow are under enormous pressure and yet Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael continue to sit on their hands while costs spiral. Record numbers are already struggling to pay their energy bills, with hundreds of thousands in arrears and many more on the brink.”

“The number of people at risk of poverty has also increased. In that context, the Government’s failure to act on soaring fuel costs is simply unacceptable,” she added.

Deputy Newsome Drenna claims the debate will allow TDs to decide whether they stand with struggling households or with a government which she says is refusing to act.

“Families are being hammered by rising costs. This motion gives the Government and every TD an opportunity to back immediate action to bring fuel prices down and provide real relief to households,” she concluded.

Related topics: Natasha Newsome Drennan Sinn Fein Kilkenny Sign up to our Kilkenny Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Kilkenny Live within your account.