Fuel Prices
Dail Éireann — 2026-04-28
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Alan Dillon (FG), Mayo

I thank the Deputies for their questions and contributions. I and my colleagues in the Department of enterprise have placed SMEs in all sectors front and centre. They are not being left behind. We fully understand the cost pressures many of them face. The memo the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, brought to Cabinet today was supported right across the Government. It outlined the types of measures that will be introduced over the weeks ahead. There are other specific measures within the construction industry. The sector was referenced today at Cabinet and more needs to be done for it.
On what we are doing and have done, we outlined the assessment that was made precisely to support those sectors that needed the intervention. If we take transport SMEs - our bus operators and haulage companies – they will receive direct fuel-linked supports because fuel makes up a huge proportion of their costs and they have felt disproportionate increases. Agricultural contractors are also receiving monthly targeted payments because they are exposed during seasonal periods. That is very important. Many businesses in retail and hospitality will see energy relief in terms of their distribution and they will have a significant VAT reduction to 9% on 1 July. We want to continue to ensure that businesses are supported.
Notwithstanding this, there is not a one-size-fits-all list of measures that the Government can introduce. The package currently stands at €750 million to support jobs, communities and SMEs right across sectors. This is targeted, evidence-based and an intervention that the Government wants to continue, and we are not finished there yet.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-04-28/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:52+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-28