Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2017
607. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department will include in the budget that foreign lorries pay a tariff on the roads similar to the tariff hauliers pay in other countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39224/17]
View answerRoad charging systems for Heavy Goods Vehicles have been introduced in a number of EU Member States under Directive 1999/62/EC, as modified by Directives 2002/38/EC and 2011/76/EU. These Directives set out the legal basis for charging HGVs for the use of road infrastructure and authorise Member States, if they so wish, to levy user charges, which can be time-based, for example, per day, week or year, or distance-based, calculated on the number of kilometres driven. Any such charges must apply to all HGVs, both domestic and foreign, using the Member State's road infrastructure.
The introduction of a road user charge for HGVs in Ireland is under consideration by my Department as an option in the medium to long-term future.
