I respectfully ask the Taoiseach whether he or the Government can do anything about the excessive cost of diesel, fuel and petrol at the pumps, and the price of kerosene for people in their homes. We see now that the price per litre of diesel has gone over €1.80 and it is much around the same for petrol. The price of diesel has actually gone higher than petrol at many pumps. The make-up of the tax in the price is €1.15 and it is €1.05 for diesel. Carbon tax accounts for 16.35 cent of the price of petrol and 18.74 cent for the price of diesel. I also learned, and people have got to know this week, that 1,000 litres of home heating oil in the South of Ireland cost €1,000 whereas in the North of Ireland, it costs just €700. Can the Taoiseach do something about it? People cannot sustain it.

Deputy Healy-Rae has asked his question.

It is driving up inflation, the cost of living and everything else.

That question is now asked, Deputy.

Please answer. Can the Taoiseach do anything about it?

In the budget, as the Deputy knows, we have reduced the VAT-----

Prices have gone up since.

Please, Deputy.

-----for the next five years to 9% on electricity and so on, for which we have provided a lot of resources. If we did not do that, it would have resulted in significantly higher bills. We have also substantially improved the situation. We have increased the free fuel allowance and expanded the number of people who will be able to get it. For example, those on working family payments will be able to get it as well. We have also significantly expanded the budget for retrofitting to enable people to have houses in the end that will bring bills down substantially. I accept that prices have gone high, however. They have come down since the escalated increases as a result of the war on Ukraine and so forth.