Whatever your take on the fuel protests that have swept the nation for six days in a row, chances are you’d like to know whether your local filling station is stocked at the pumps.
In the last few days, hundreds of stations have seen petrol and diesel stocks dwindle to zero – with many stations implementing spend limits of €50, €10 and even €5. Now blockades have been broken, but ‘pop-up’ fuel-cost protests have jammed Cork city this afternoon, and there are fears that it could be another 10 days before fuel networks return to normal.
And amid the chaos, drivers have been making use of a new website to check whether their nearest Circle K or Centra has the goods.
The FuelStatus Ireland website is not official, and is not backed by any council or government authority – should not be treated as 100% accurate – but many on social media are saying it’s been a handy tool for them. You can check the site here – and filter by locality to narrow down your search.
As of 3pm, based on crowdsourced reports, the site suggests that Cork has a total fuel availability of around 22% – which may not come as a surprise to anyone who’s popped down to a crowded forecourt this weekend.
At a station in Carrigaline(Image: Chloe Barrett)
Fuels for Ireland chief executive, Kevin McPartlan has said that it could 10 days to get fuel availability back to normal: “Reopening infrastructure is a significant step forward, but it does not mean the national fuel distribution system can return to normal immediately.”
“We predict it could take up to ten days to restore the full national network of supply. Fuel distribution operates as a national network. It cannot simply be switched back on at full capacity the moment access improves. Stocks have to be rebuilt, delivery schedules reset, routes normalised and supply patterns across the country rebalanced. That takes time.”
Today, the Cabinet is due to meet at 4pm for an emergency meeting to sign off on measures the government hopes will bring all protests over fuel costs to an end. In the meantime, opposition parties have moved to support a motion of no confidence in the government, which will be brought next week.
Mary Lou McDonald, leader of Sinn Féin, said: “Sinn Fein TDs and Senators met this morning and will be moving a motion of no confidence in the government. They have lost the confidence of the public. It is clear that they still are not listening and do not accept the scale of this fuel and cost of living crisis.”
Ahead of the Cabinet meeting, which is expected to sign off on temporary supports relating to the cost of fuel, Ms McDonald added: “All reports indicate it will be more of the same half measures from them this evening. This is unacceptable. We need the maximum reductions now, as proposed by Sinn Fein weeks ago.”