Double whammy for customers as prices of petrol and internet to increase significantly on April 1

Prices of petrol, diesel, green diesel are set to increase this Monday, April 1.

Despite heavy criticism from opposition parties, the Government is aiming to restore excise rates to the levels they were at before a temporary cut was introduced back in 2022, before the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.

This temporary cut meant motorists were saving 20 cent per litre of petrol and 15 cent on diesel, but from Monday, petrol will now cost an extra 4 cent, for diesel an extra 3 three cent and for marked gas oil (green diesel) and extra 1.5 cent.

However, the increase on Monday is the second last step in the Governments plan, with another increase expected in August.

Speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland, leader of Aontú Peadar Tóibín said that the Government is "raking it in" and the "idea of hiking up" the excise duty is "absolutely wrong and "punitive" on people.

The cost of internet broadband, mobile and television are also set to significantly increase from Monday.

Three, Vodafone, Eir and Sky are all increasing their monthly plan prices, depending on your provider, from €2 to €8. Virgin Media have also announced they will be increasing their prices later in the year.

Vodafone, Three and Eir can increase there prices based on a clause in customer agreements that provides for annual increases in fees.

In statements, Vodafone have said that the company faces "growing pressures due to inflation", while Eir have said the company has experienced significant cost increases and "it has been necessary to pass on some of these to the customers."

ComReg, the statutory regulator of the electronic communications sector, has no role in regulating prices, however, it has expressed concerns over these price increases for customers.

Pearse Doherty has heavily criticised the increases calling for Government action to outlaw them.

"We need to ban this practice, where companies are increasing the price of contracts in the middle of the contract", said the Sinn Féin spokesperson on finance, "It's already going to be banned in the North and Britain.

Mr Doherty has already produced legislation banning this practice and plans to bring forward in the Dáil if the Government refuses to take action.

"The regulator agrees with me that this practice has to stop", he added, "and if the government won't act then we will act for them."