Petrol price rises ‘cost Irish €160m’

THE higher increase in petrol prices compared to the EU average has cost Irish motorists almost €160 million, Fine Gael claimed yesterday.

According to figures from the European Commission, the price per litre of petrol rose nine cent on average across the EU in the 12 months up to last Match, but by 15c here.

Fine Gael’s Richard Bruton said the 1.47m motorists who used an average of 1,800 litres of petrol per year had paid an extra €158m due to the higher rise.