The cost of petrol at €1.70 a litre is approaching the cost of cheap wine on the Continent and car taxes continue to rise. For families living in rural Ireland distant from major cities,two cars are almost a necessity and petrol and diesel bills are punitive given typically long journeys to work, school and shops,not to mention socialising. Rising motorway tolls are also likely.

Could these cost pressures lead to a depopulation of rural Ireland if people are forced to move to cities where public transport is available and cycling is reasonably safe? To paraphrase Yeats,rural Ireland is dead and gone and O'Leary is in his grave.

Or will technology come to the rescue with new generation cars like these diesels http://www.fuel-economy.co.uk/stats.shtml capable of over 60 miles to the gallon? To the extent the government gets less revenue than expected from fuel tax,it may claw it back by increasing car tax even on fuel efficient cars.

Not only has petrol risen, but bus services are being reduced in rural areas.
The price of petrol has been a big factor in where I plan to live in the future.
And it's not going to get cheaper.
Ideally, I would not like to be car reliant, so it looks like I'll be plumping for a town or city with good public transport and local amenities.
Or......i could change from car to motor bike!

Originally Posted by patslatt

The cost of petrol at €1.70 a litre is approaching the cost of cheap wine on the Continent and car taxes continue to rise. For families living in rural Ireland distant from major cities,two cars are almost a necessity and petrol and diesel bills are punitive given typically long journeys to work, school and shops,not to mention socialising. Rising motorway tolls are also likely.

Could these cost pressures lead to a depopulation of rural Ireland if people are forced to move to cities where public transport is available and cycling is reasonably safe? Or will technology come to the rescue with new generation cars like the Volkswagen Passat capable of over 60 miles to the gallon? To the extent the government gets less revenue than expected from fuel tax,it may claw it back by increasing car tax even on fuel efficient cars.

Rural Ireland is very depopulated anyway. And the government is going to increase car tax,fuel efficient or not. The bustards.

But yes, I think rural Ireland is going to go through it's biggest migration movement since the 50's.

Originally Posted by Truth.ie

Not only has petrol risen, but bus services are being reduced in rural areas.
The price of petrol has been a big factor in where I plan to live in the future.
And it's not going to get cheaper.
Ideally, I would not like to be car reliant, so it looks like I'll be plumping for a town or city with good public transport and local amenities.
Or......i could change from car to motor bike!

I've entered a link in the OP showing diesel models capable of over 60 miles to the gallon. Would they help?

Its a serious problem bus services, such as they are, are being further reduced. I can see that people would have to move to cities or big towns.

Originally Posted by patslatt

I've entered a link in the OP showing diesel models capable of over 60 miles to the gallon. Would they help?

Maybe - but who in Rural Ireland can afford to buy a brand new high tech Diesel?

It affects everything badly. Instead of going out for the day people stay home. instead of going to town a couple of times a week people to once a week and stick with the one big store.

If you don't have a car you're unlikely to be able to get a bus to work and if you can't afford the cost of travelling it affects your employment opportunities.

Originally Posted by patslatt

Could these cost pressures lead to a depopulation of rural Ireland

Yes. That is the dream of the Greens and the reason for the higher tax on cars based on emissions. Ideally they would like everyone to live together in cities in their delusional and inane belief that that will stop the climate changing.

I'm all in favour of this. Commuting is ecologically unsound and the countryside is being destroyed by eyesores being built all over the place.