Motorway protests fueled by rising costs to coach operators, farmers and delivery drivers

As nationwide protests got underway to highlight the the impact the current oil crisis, local coach operators, farmers, delivery drivers alike are warning of greater consequences to come if prices continue to rise.

Today (7th April) convoys of vehicles including HGVs, agricultural and plant vehicles are either remaining in regional locations or converging in Dublin City Centre along multiple routes. These include the M1 and M3 which is blocking traffic heading into Dublin City form Meath.

Aontú Leader and Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín said in regards to the fuel protest “To put it in very simple terms, many families and businesses cannot afford fuel. Many builders, farmers, contractors, truck drivers, fishermen cannot stay in business at these price points.”

“The government must suspend all Carbon tax increases, it is beyond belief given the current circumstances that the government intend to increase carbon taxes in 4 weeks’ time. The rebate scheme that was given to licenced hauliers needs to be extended to other businesses heavily dependent on diesel. HVO needs to be included in the rebate scheme.”

Currently, commuters are already feeling the difference at the pump with petrol staying approximately at €1,94 and diesel at €2.17 as of recently with prices showing no sign of slowing any time soon.

Private bus services are also feeling the pinch as they are already being forced to raise prices, leaving both service providers and bus users, especially college students, in a tough situation.

Brian Roe from Sillan Coaches said these increases are “catastrophic to our industry and in particular to the service we operate from Cavan / Meath to Dublin City Centre and UCD.”

Mr Roe said prices are increase on all fares early this week, from singles to 10 trip tickets, with the only other option they have being to “park them up and wait for the crisis to end”.

They also received a licence offer to service Dublin City University (DCU) starting in September which they may have to shelve if fuel prices continue to go up. This will not only mean they will have to do without a source of much needed income but students will also be missing a direct route to their college.

Aiden Keating, owner of V. Keating's Oil, said people are already buying less home heating oil with some now “doing without”.

Keating said five weeks ago people could get 400 litres for €500 but “today you’re only getting 250 litres.”

“People are curtailing themselves. They can’t buy it, It’s too expensive”.

He said this is dealing an even bigger blow to both farmers and delivery services which will lead to increased prices across the board.

Farmers are currently rushing to get fuel even with the increased prices due to fears of further increases or even a fuel shortage.

Mr Keating said this is already affecting food prices and could get much worse because “If the farmers see that there’s going to be no profit, they will not plant. They’ll stop this year and there’ll be a shortage and they won’t buy fuel.

“It's costing more to deliver the fuel to the people and the profits went down”.

He also pointed out that delivery costs will go up along with the cost of fuel and “there is nothing in this country that doesn’t get moved by a lorry or a van into shops.”

Because of increased delivery costs, there will be increased prices on everything and “The whole effect is going to roll down the whole way.”

The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) are also describing it as a national emergency and are calling for government support.

"While existing supports were welcome, the continued increases in fuel prices have effectively eroded the benefit of those initial supports,” IRHA president Gery Hyland said.

"The situation facing hauliers has intensified in recent days, with operators now under renewed financial pressure as diesel prices show no signs of stabilisation. This is a national emergency.”

“This will lead to job losses, higher prices, and a fast-emerging crisis in Ireland’s transport sector."

In terms of public transport, TD Darren O Rourke said fuel prices should not impact the number of bus services that can be in operation but some transport services are already struggling with capacity and may not be able to handle an increase in users.

“The problem in Meath is that so many of the services let people down on a daily basis. That’s before we have increased demand.”

This is especially so for the 103, 105, and 109 bus routes which are already seeing large delays and capacity issues.

O’Rourke said this might also affect school transport services as the majority are private contractors.

Despite these issues, Cllr Eddie Fennessy encouraged more people to take public transport during the current crisis and said: “Diesel and oil prices have shot up, bus fares however, have remained the same. Get out of your cars and onto a bus is what I’m advising people.”