Northern Ireland paid more for diesel than anywhere else in EU last month

Motorists in Northern Ireland faced the highest costs for diesel in Europe last month, according to a report from the Consumer Council. The watchdog has called for an investigation into EU levels of fuel cost after the government announced plans to increase fuel duty last year.

This rise of three pence per litre has been delayed from January to August, a move which the group says has given limited relief to local consumers. However they argue that with prices in NI already higher than anywhere else in the UK and Republic of Ireland, urgent action is needed.

Aodhan O'Donnell of the Consumer Council said: "We need to know what government intends to do to address this long running issue, the decision to delay the planned fuel duty increase from January 2012 until August 2012 has had an impact on the price consumers pay in the short term. However, it is unlikely there will be a significant downward shift in petrol and diesel prices by August which means the impact on consumers is simply being delayed."

The three pence tariff increase may not sound like much, but it would make the cost of filling the average car £1.50 more expensive in total. Over the past 20 years the price of petrol has tripled.

The Consumer Council has also called for the Executive to invest more into the public transport network as a viable alternative to driving a car.