Fuelling discontent: Protesters' blockades end as schools reopen in Limerick

IT IS EXPECTED it will take “days not hours” before service stations in Limerick city  and  fuel distribution  return to normal. 

The movement of vehicles was expected to return to typical traffic levels this morning after blockades were voluntarily stood down by fuel protesters on Sunday - and schools reopened after the Easter break. 

The Limerick Tunnel, a section of the M20 Limerick to Cork road and the M7 between Junction 29 Ballysimon and Junction 30 Rosbrien have all reopened to traffic. 

Large trucks and tractors had been parked up on some  main routes leading into the city since last Tuesday which resulted in road closures and delays for commuters. 

The blockade of Foynes Port was also voluntarily lifted by protesters on Sunday afternoon.

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Organisers of the roadblocks - The People Of Ireland Against Fuel Prices Protest - said their message was: “The people have had enough. Enough of soaring fuel costs.” 

The Government announced a multi-million euro package on Sunday evening which includes cutting excise duty on petrol and diesel by 10 cents with a further 2.4 cent reduction on marked gas oil or green diesel.

The measures will take effect from midnight on Tuesday subject to approval by the Oireachtas. There are also support schemes for haulage, coach, farming and fishing sectors.

During an unprecedented week in the city, county and country, queues of vehicles lined up for fuel before the service stations ran dry, ambulances were among the vehicles running low on fuel, and  Limerick Fire and Rescue Service implemented fuel ‑saving measures.

A management meeting of the HSE Mid West heard that it was taking some staff up to six hours to make it to and from work as a result of the fuel protests. The meeting also heard that some patients were unable to attend critical appointments.

The Limerick Leader received calls from people asking  where they could fill up their vehicle. 

Men, women and children took to the streets of Limerick city in a fuel protest march on Sunday morning. Organisers asked attendees to  walk peacefully into the city from Coonagh while “carrying Irish flags and signage in a united show of support”.

The protests saw sparks fly between Minister of State Deputy Niall Collins, and Deputy Richard O’Donoghue (who supported the protestors), as the two Limerick TDs engaged in  a war of words on the Limerick Today morning radio show with Joe Nash on Live 95 on Friday morning.