Motorists face a hike of at least 2 cents in the price of a litre of diesel every year until 2021 under plans to equalise excise duty paid on petrol and diesel.
Minister for Transport Shane Ross wants an to increase excise paid on diesel, the rate for diesel currently is 11c lower than petrol. The change is set to yield the State €328m.The changes would likely take place over five years and add just over 2c per year to each litre.
Ross wants the Government to introduce the measures in the upcoming Budget.
According to new figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) in August, 70% of the 119,952 new cars taxed between January and July had diesel engines.
