Fallout continues in Limerick after fuel blockades which rocked country

AS FUEL shortages continue there have been reports of health workers being accommodated in local hotels, and tensions escalating between local politicians as the fallout from the protests and blockades continues this week.

Limerick has been at the epicentre of the national controversy, due to the blockade at the Port of Foynes, and Independent Ireland TD Richard O’Donoghue being a prominent advocate for the protesters.

Petrol stations were still feeling the effects of the demonstrations in supply chains, with a spokesperson for Maxol branches in Abbeyfeale and Carrigkerry reporting this Tuesday that only half tank loads were being delivered.

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Shane Gleeson, who runs two Inver petrol stations in the city, said: “We’ve lost three-and-a-half days of trade from this. It will probably take us six months to recover the losses. It’s a serious financial impact.”

However, he added that petrol supplies are now at normal levels in his stations at Punch’s Cross and Castletroy.

Elsewhere this week, more than 800 children and teenagers in west Limerick were left without school transport.

It came after Paudie Kenneally made what he described as a “heartbreaking” decision to pull the service he provides over the cost of fuel.

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The businessman, who has covered school runs with his late father Dave (Joe) Kenneally for 42 years, said he made the decision following the announcement of Government supports on Sunday night.

“I’m not going to go bankrupt to cover school runs for Bus Eireann or anyone,” said Paudie.

Martin Ryan, a local Fianna Fail councillor, who also runs a haulage business, said he can empathise with the frustrations of people which led to the demonstrations.

“This protest was not just about fuel. I heard from a lot of people, and I’d empathise with them. It’s about our every-day costs, our taxes. It feels like every department in Government is looking for its own slice without being aware of how many people are being affected in terms of the bigger picture,” Cllr Ryan said.

He added that he will continue to canvass local TDs to flag the pressure people are under.

“It’s not that we were sitting on our hands and wishing for it all to go away. It was far from that,” he said.

Mayor John Moran is meeting ministers in Dublin this week “to keep driving forward the key projects Limerick needs delivered.”

Speaking for the first time since demonstrations began, he said: “People are under real pressure right now, and it’s a difficult situation, but it’s good to see some solutions being proposed.”

He urged everyone to think of the needs of “critical service providers” until fuel levels are fully restored.

It’s understood key workers at University Hospital Limerick, faced with long drives due to the blockades were offered the chance to stay in local hotels by hospital bosses.

A small number took this up, hotel industry sources have told Limerick Live.

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There were explosive scenes in Dail Eireann on Tuesday afternoon, as the Government found itself voting on a Confidence motion.

It came after Sinn Fein, supported by other opposition parties, triggered a motion of No Confidence.

The Government survived the vote, but lost Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae, who resigned from his role to vote No Confidence.