asked the Minister for Finance the number of price increases which have occurred on a gallon of petrol since March, 1973; the amount of each increase; and the percentage per gallon taken in Government revenue after each price increase.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Petrol Price Increases.
40.
Mr. Kitt
The answer is in the form of a tabular statement which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
|
Date |
Price per gallon |
Amount of increase |
Total tax as a % of retail price of premium grade petrol |
|
p |
p |
% |
|
|
2 November, 1972 |
36.0 |
62.6 |
|
|
9 July, 1973 |
37.0 |
1.0 |
61.0 |
|
3 September, 1973 |
37.5 |
.5 |
61.6 |
|
2 November, 1973 |
39.1 |
1.6 |
59.3 |
|
26 December, 1973 |
41.4 |
2.3 |
56.4 |
|
20 February, 1974 |
50.3 |
8.9 |
47.5 |
|
6 March, 1974 |
50.8 |
.5 |
47.1 |
|
5 December, 1974 |
65.0 |
14.2 |
58.7 |
|
13 January, 1975 |
71.7 |
6.7 |
53.8 |
|
15 December, 1975 |
75.7 |
4.0 |
51.3 |
|
31 January, 1976 |
85.7 |
10.0 |
56.9 |
|
1 March, 1976 |
88.3 |
2.6 |
58.2 |
Mr. Kitt
What was the percentage taken in Government revenue per gallon of petrol since March, 1973?
There are 44 different figures.
Forty-four increases?
As a matter of interest, in November, 1972, the percentage which tax represented——
The Minister cannot concoct this one.
(Interruptions.)
Order.
If Deputies want the figures I will give them to them. The percentage which tax represented in November, 1972, was 62.6 and it is now only 58.2.
Give us the amount in pence.
Mr. Kitt
Can the Minister give me the percentage per gallon taken in Government revenue after each price increase? Do I understand there were 44?
The figures are in the tabular statement.
Question No. 41.
Mr. Kitt
How many price increases were there?
There have been 12 price increases since November, 1972.
With regard to the petrol increase imposed by the Minister late in 1974 for which he blamed the fact that there was such a difference in price between the Southern Ireland price and the Northern Ireland price, and in view of the fact that the opposite now applies and the price of petrol is much cheaper in Northern Ireland than it is here, and further in view of the fact that there has been a loss of revenue to our petrol retailers and their sales have dropped considerably in recent times, will the Minister review the price of petrol to vindicate what he said in November, 1974, when he gave us that reason for the increase at that time?
All factors were taken into consideration before the Government came to their decision in relation to the recent budget, and I will be happy to deal with that matter when I am replying.
Question No. 41.
Just a moment. May I ask the Minister——
I have given some latitude on this matter. I have called the next question on a number of occasions. Is the Chair to be obeyed?
Yes. One final supplementary. Will the Minister examine the situation which is causing serious concern to the Irish petrol retailers because of the drop in sales particularly in this part of our country?
All matters of this kind are anxiously considered by the Government.