Sinn Féin spokesperson on Climate, the Environment, Energy and Transport, Pa Daly TD, has sharply criticised the government's handling of the worsening energy crisis.

He called on Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Regional Independents to significantly increase supports for hard-pressed households by adopting Sinn Féin's proposals to scrap the carbon tax increase, remove excise duty completely from home heating oil, deliver the maximum possible reductions on petrol and diesel, and reintroduce energy credits.

The Kerry TD was responding to CSO analysis of the latest EU Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices flash estimates, which show prices were 3.6% higher than the same month last year, largely driven by a surge in energy costs in Ireland.

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Teachta Daly said: "We learned that energy prices have risen by 11.1% in March and were up by 12.3% last year.

"The situation is quickly spinning out of control.

"These are eye watering figures that clearly demand decisive action.

"The meagre measures the government have introduced so far have been totally inadequate.

"They have left people feeling abandoned and exposed.

"The Taoiseach has claimed that their response so far has got the balance right – tell that to the households who are already rationing heat, unable to get to work as they cannot afford to commute there or having to forego other essentials like food just so they can fill their tanks.

"These are impossible choices that no one should ever have to make. And now they have been told that the situation is likely to get harder before it gets any better.

"That is not good enough.

"Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Independents who support them must urgently change course and adopt Sinn Féin's proposals.

"This is a clear and workable alternative.

"It is not too late to admit they got this badly wrong and take the decisive action needed to tackle this head-on.

"Government must act now by reducing diesel and petrol by the maximum amount, scrapping the carbon tax increase, reintroducing energy credits and removing excise duty entirely from home heating oil to deliver real, immediate relief.

"They cannot continue to abandon the hundreds of thousands of workers and families work cannot keep warm."