It is the third month in a row that prices at the pumps have remained unchanged.
Petrol is unchanged at €1.80 a litre on average across the country. Diesel is €1.77 a litre, the same price it was last month, according to the AA Ireland Fuel Price Survey for April.
The cost of running an electric vehicle is unchanged on the month following the previous month’s drop.
AA Ireland said its fuel survey for this month showed no fluctuation in fuel prices, with petrol and diesel remaining consistent for a third consecutive month.
Elena Leao, a marketing and public relations executive at AA Ireland, said: “While we’re not seeing any increases this month, prices remain relatively high compared to earlier in the year.
Bigger falls were unlikely due to higher levels of tax on motor fuels and the impact of currency movements
“That makes it even more important for drivers to stay savvy and adopt fuel-efficient habits that help keep costs manageable.”
Crude-oil prices have dropped sharply since April 2 when American president Donald Trump made his first big “Liberation Day” announcement on tariffs. They have fallen from around $75 a barrel for Brent crude to around $65 at the moment.
Crude oil is falling in price as traders fear that a global recession, sparked by the US tariff blitz, will dampen demand for the fuel.
UCC energy expert Dr Paul Deane said the drop in crude-oil costs could mean pump prices for both fuels may fall to between €1.60 and €1.70 a litre in the coming weeks. Diesel will be cheaper than petrol. But he said bigger falls were unlikely due to higher levels of tax on motor fuels and the impact of currency movements.
Asked why fuel prices had not fallen at the pumps, Kevin McPartlan of Fuels for Ireland, the representative group for oil importers and distributors, said the price charged on commodity markets for Brent crude was a significant factor in the cost of fuel for Irish consumers, but not the only one.
He said the impact of the fall in crude-oil prices on forecourt pump prices would take time to materialise.
US president Donald Trump. Photo: AP
“Additionally, the recent strengthening of the dollar has partially offset some of the effect on retail transport fuel prices in Ireland,” he said.
“It’s crucial to remember that approximately a euro in tax is paid to the Government for every litre of petrol and diesel purchased by Irish motorists.
“External market conditions can only influence the remaining portion of pump prices. Consequently, Irish motorists benefit less from falling crude-oil prices compared to the majority of their European counterparts.”
Dr Deane said crude-oil prices were falling because the current outlook for the global economy was for lower economic activity.
This is due to “the uncertainty of Trump’s tariffs and chaotic policy changes”. In turn, this is leading to lower crude-oil prices.