asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport the plans, if any, he has to reduce transport costs in the Republic of Ireland to bring them into line with those pertaining to Northern Ireland.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Transport Costs.
13.
I accept that there is a general perception that our transport costs, and in particular road haulage costs, are higher than those which apply in Northern Ireland although it is not possible to quantify accurately the extent of the differentiation. Many of the key factors involved in the composition of both access and internal transport costs, such as fuel prices, insurance costs and port and sea freight charges, lie outside the scope of my remit as Minister for Tourism and Transport. As regards those elements within my area of responsibility, I should like to emphasise that my on-going policy of securing increased competition and efficiency in the various sectors of the transport market in respect of both national and international operations is aimed at providing a more effective service for transport users at the lowest possible cost. Substantial benefits have already come from that policy, particularly in relation to access transport by sea and air.
In order to allow my Department to look critically at the whole question of relative costs in the road haulage industry, the hauliers' trade associations have recently been asked to provide data on which an accurate and realistic examination could be made of comparable costs affecting road haulage in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and elsewhere in Europe. Those data are awaited.