"It isn't just behavioural changes that can actually dramatically lower the use of fuel."
Eamon Ryan is encouraging road users to slow down to save money on fuel in response to rising prices.
The Green Party Leader and Minister for Transport made the comments during a press conference on Wednesday (9 March).
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"Everyone knows that the speed of cars affects efficiency," Ryan said.
"If you go above a certain speed, the costs increase dramatically.
"So one of the ways, and we know this, anyone of a certain age go back to the 70's can remember it, it isn't just behavioural changes like that that can actually dramatically lower the use of fuel."
When asked to clarify if he was encouraging road users to drive slower, Ryan confirmed his advice.
"In certain instances when you go above certain speed limits, the actual use of fuel increases dramatically, the cost of driving increases dramatically.
"As one practical example where people can actually make what's in the tank go further, examples like that, and in the homes as well, they're rife with examples, and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) will be setting out some of those in a public campaign that I expect to be launched in the coming days," he concluded.
The Government has
confirmed plans to make cuts to the price of fuel through reductions in excise duty, with the cuts expected to come into action at midnight on Wednesday.
The increase in inflation has been linked with the ongoing conflict between
Russia and Ukraine.
Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe brought proposals before Cabinet on Wednesday regarding the level of decrease in excise duty on fuel.
The cuts include a decrease of 15c in excise for diesel, 20c for petrol, and 2c for green diesel.
If approved by the Dáil on Wednesday as expected, the new prices would be in effect until August 2022.
