Vol. 454 No. 7
87 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the normal transport cost for general hauliers operating in Ireland; the comparative figures for our EU counterparts; the measures, if any, he intends to introduce to rectify the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11539/95]
My Department does not have the comparative data of the kind mentioned by the Deputy. Transport costs which affect general hauliers in this country include such items as excise duties, fuel taxes, insurance, port charges and labour costs all of which are outside the scope of my remit at the Department of Transport, Energy and Communications.
It is generally accepted that Irish hauliers are disadvantaged by comparison with their European competitors due to our island/peripheral location. As part of the national development plan very significant investment in this country's transport system is being made which will improve internal and access transport infrastructure and facilities on an integrated basis, thereby reducing transport costs. The reliability of the transport system will also be improved by removing bottlenecks, remedying capacity deficiencies and reducing absolute journey times.
