There are around 1,500 petrol stations in Ireland, and prices can vary by several cent a litre between stations a short distance apart. Motorists currently have no practical way to compare them without driving past each forecourt.
I have proposed PumpWatch, a mandatory national system requiring every petrol station to publish its petrol and diesel prices in real time to a central public database. The data would be freely available to apps, mapping services and comparison websites, so drivers could find the cheapest fuel before they set off.
The UK introduced a similar scheme earlier this year, and forecourts there must report any price change within 30 minutes. Germany and France have run comparable systems for years. Ireland could do the same quickly and at minimal cost.
When motorists can see who is charging what, forecourts face real competitive pressure and any unjustified price increases are harder to sustain. To be reliable, the system must be mandatory and cover every forecourt in the country.
I am working on turning the proposal into legislation. Once the Bill is ready, I will push for it to be advanced as quickly as possible and will keep you updated.
Please contact me for more information on (01) 969 2020 or shay.brennan@oireachtas.ie.