Tipperary haulier faces €2,500 extra diesel costs a week, councillor told at fuel protest

South Tipperary Labour Cllr Michael 'Chicken' Brennan, who took part in today's M8 fuel protest near Cashel, highlighted how rises in fuel prices caused by the Iran War are severely impacting Tipperary road hauliers, the agriculture and transport sectors and people building their homes.

He told The Nationalist he spoke to one haulier from Littleton at the protest who is paying €500 extra in diesel costs a day to have his five lorries transporting goods on the roads.

“He currently has the lorries out but says he can't keep going at €2,500 extra per week.”

The Killenaule councillor reported there were also a good number of bus transport providers under strain due to the surge in fuel costs at the protest. Many of them providing school transport are tied into fixed price contracts put in place before the fuel crisis. 

He also spoke at the protest to agricultural contractors, who are coming into a very busy time of their working year but only received a 3c reduction in the price of agricultural diesel in the Government's relief package.  They told him the cost increases they are dealing with will have to be passed onto their farmer customers. 

Cllr Brennan pointed out the fuel crisis is also increasing the cost of building houses. A road haulier he spoke to said his younger brother is building a house and has been informed by the builders that the cost is going to be €25,000 higher due to the current crisis.

The Fethard based councillor, who was interviewed on RTE Radio One's Liveline show about the fuel protest and crisis, said the Government's relief package wasn't enough with the cuts made to diesel and petrol prices already eroded by price increases over the past two weeks.

He called for a halt to the carbon tax while the crisis is taking place and for more relief to be given to hauliers, transport providers and the agricultural sector.  If fuel rationing is introduced, he urged that priority be given to these sectors. 

Cllr Brennan at the fuel crisis protest on the M8 near Cashel with lorries taking part in the protest pictured in the background

Cllr Brennan said today's protest has exposed a very real divide between urban and rural Ireland.

“In rural counties, there is a broad understanding of why hauliers have taken this action. People outside the major cities know the cost of fuel is not an abstract policy issue — it is a direct threat to farms, small businesses and essential services. For rural communities, rising transport costs are already hitting household budgets and local economies.”

“In contrast, the reaction in Dublin has been dominated by frustration. The city came to a standstill, and for many commuters the disruption felt like an unfair burden placed on people who have no control over national fuel policy. That anger is real and visible.”

“Both reactions are valid, but they reflect two very different lived experiences.

“Rural Ireland depends on haulage for every basic necessity — food, farm inputs, construction materials, and employment. Urban Ireland depends on movement and public transport. When either is disrupted, the impact is immediate.

“What today shows clearly is that the pressures facing the haulage sector are not isolated. They are national. And unless those pressures are addressed, the divide between urban and rural responses will only deepen,” he added.

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