Opposition parties have urged the Government to postpone plans to return fuel excise duty costs to their full price due to ongoing concerns over the cost-of-living crisis.
It comes as new figures from AA Ireland indicate that the average cost of a litre of diesel on forecourts has risen by 19c to €1.92 in the past month, with petrol increasing by 9c a litre to €1.84 over the same period.
It means that a motorist buying 50 litres of fuel is spending, on average, €9.50 more for diesel or €4.50 more for petrol since early July.
In April the Government increased temporary fuel excise cuts to 32c on a litre of diesel and 27c for petrol.
However, those reductions are due to be unwound on a phased basis between September and December.
Ministers have repeatedly said they are keeping the situation under review.
Department of Finance figures also show that €328m was collected in VAT on diesel and petrol in the first five months of this year, with the vast majority of that collected in April and May.
The significant rise in fuel VAT receipts during those two months coincided with a jump in pump prices for motorists due to the Iran war.
As a result, the amount of VAT collected for the whole of this year from fuel is expected to be significantly higher than for 2025, for which the Government estimates €1.035bn was collected.
Sinn Féin TD Darren O'Rourke said while the excise cuts are temporary, the coalition should not unwind them, saying it "absolutely shouldn't happen".
"Because we know the price at the fuel pump is increasing, we know the fuel costs are not a discretionary spend for families as they have to spend that money, and on top of everything else in a cost-of-living crisis it is simply unaffordable.
"We warned Government of this, they didn't hear our warnings, and we see the price of the pumps increasing and increasing.
"Families simply cannot afford this. The ball is in the Government's court, but they need to respond to it."
He added he believes a lower uptake than expected in supports for hauliers and farmers is due to "the complexity of the application system".
Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Correspondent Aengus Cox details rising fuel costs seen last month
A Government spokesperson said the support package since the outbreak of the latest Middle East conflict has amounted to over €1bn and is "significantly larger than the increased VAT received by the Exchequer".
The spokesperson added that "while it is not possible for any government to offset all of the increases in fuel prices - which are driven by market factors, using the tax system - these measures have provided significant mitigation, supporting households, businesses and farmers who are experiencing the most acute impacts of the increases in fuel prices".
Meanwhile, Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín said: "These excise hikes must be halted or things will become unaffordable for many dependent on vehicles for work and life.
"We saw what happened earlier this year when people could not take it anymore, and took to the streets in the national fuel protests that brought the country to a halt.
"There is already talk on the ground people will take to the streets again if life becomes unaffordable once more.
"Due to the rise in petrol prices, the Government is taking record VAT, despite the fact we are in a cost-of-living crisis. They're benefiting while the customer takes the hit. This is wrong and it’s unfair."
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Industry body Fuels for Ireland said it would be reckless to unwind the fuel excise cuts fully as planned.
AA Ireland said the shift in pump prices reflected an increase in wholesale prices.
That, in turn, is due to increases in the price of oil - which have risen again after hopes of a peace deal between the US and Iran receded.
AA Ireland said the change at the pumps "reflects global market conditions rather than any change in tax".
The organisation said motorists should plan for further increases through the autumn if wholesale prices stay elevated.
It also advised drivers to do maintenance checks on their vehicle, which would help to improve its fuel efficiency.
