Fuel at its highest price in 12 months
By Maurice Garvey
THE average cost of a litre of petrol and diesel continued to rise in December 2017, according to recent analysis from AA Ireland.
According to the AA, a litre of petrol now costs an average of 138.3c, with diesel at 127.1c per litre.
Fuel is at its’ highest price per litre in the past 12 months, with petrol at its most expensive since August 2015.
However, motorists who know where to look, can maximise their resources.
Applegreen held a sale from Sunday, January 7 to midnight on Tuesday, January 9 – with four cents off petrol and diesel.
By Wednesday, the Applegreen in Jobstown was back slightly above the national average, 138.8 per litre of petrol, and 128.8 per litre of diesel – compared to sale prices of 133.8 and 124.8.
The cheapest service station in Tallaght viewed by The Echo was the Topaz on Old Blessington Road, 135.9 per litre of petrol, and 125.9 per litre of diesel.
Other Tallaght service stations include Topaz at Cookstown Industrial Estate (138.9 and 128.9), Topaz Kilnamanagh (138.9 and 127.9), Maxol Tymon (138.9 and 128.9), Maxol Greenhills Road (138.9 and 128.9), Topaz Citywest Business Park (139.9 and 128.9), and Topaz at The Square (139.9 and 127.9).
One of the best priced service stations found this week was the Topaz on St Peter’s Road in Walkinstown (131.9 and 121.9), followed by the KCR (133.9 and 124.9).
Maxol Ballymount was selling fuel on Tuesday at (136.9 and 126.9).
Applegreen St Agnes Road Crumlin had risen five cents from the sale, to (134.8 and 124.8) on Wednesday.
The Echo found the cheapest fuel around in Ballyfermot on Tuesday, at Topaz on Kylemore Road, which was selling petrol for 130.9 per litre and diesel for 123.9 per litre.
The nearby Go service station on Kylemore Road was selling petrol for 132.9 per litre and diesel for 122.9 per litre.
Maxol on the Longmile Road had prices of (134.9 and 124.9).
The cheapest pump found in Clondalkin on Tuesday was the Applegreen on Monastery Road during their sale (132.8 and 121.8), which has risen the next day to (136.8 and 125.8) according to Pumps.ie.
Topaz at Ninth Lock had the cheapest diesel in the area (137.9 per litre of petrol and 124.9 per litre of diesel).
Texaco on Ninth Lock Road (137.7 and 129.7) and Topaz on Fonthill Road (139.9 and 129.9) rounded off the survey.
Conor Faughnan, AA Director of Consumer Affairs, said it is unlikely fuel prices are going down in the short term.
Mr Faughnan said: “The fact that the cost of a barrel of oil continues to trend upwards is a cause for concern. Since August of last year we have seen continued, incremental monthly increases in the cost of both fuel and diesel, meaning more and more motorists are now feeling the pinch when it comes to covering their commute to work.”
“While the future of motoring will be less reliant on fossil fuels, in the mean-time people still need to be able to afford the cost of their commute to work. For some there are alternatives, but these aren’t feasible for everyone,” said Faughnan.
Faugnhan recommends alternative methods such as public transport and car pooling, but said the government need to recognise the “negative impact of excessive taxation on petrol and diesel.”
According to the AA, an average motorist will pay €207.45 per month for petrol, of which €129.95 is tax.
Meanwhile, a motorist driving diesel will spend €190.65 per month on fuel, of which €112.41 is tax.
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