Government under fire to hand back petrol VAT

PRESSURE was growing on the Government last night to hand back the extra €50 million it is estimated to be creaming off drivers due to soaring oil prices.

With the cost of a litre of fuel hitting a record high of 137 cent in parts of the country, consumer groups and opposition parties demanded ministers stop squeezing motorists and return some of the €2.2 billion the exchequer rakes in from the pumps every year.

As drivers forked out an average 117.7 cent per litre yesterday - up from 94 cent in January - the AA calculated the Government would see some €50m extra forecourt VAT this year.