Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
1306. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will support the application of an organisation (details supplied) for a working time derogation with respect to the haulage of grain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38411/23]
View answerI am aware that the Road Haulage Association has sought a temporary derogation from the Department of Transport on rules on driving times, breaks and rest periods for drivers involved in the transporting of grain this harvest. I understand that the Road Haulage Association sought the derogation on the basis that recent wet weather conditions impacted this year’s harvest and the need to transport grain to drying facilities promptly due to higher moisture contents.
My Department does not have responsibility in this area. My Department does not have any information on real time grain moisture levels across the country or the transport and logistics issues faced in moving high moisture grain.
The Road Haulage Association’s application for the temporary derogation was refused by the Department of Transport.
I understand that the Road Haulage Association subsequently appealed this decision.
I am advised that as part of the appeals process, the Department of Transport consulted widely with stakeholders to establish if there were any reports or experienced any instances this harvest where the inability to have high moisture grain transported to grain driers/storage due to insufficient grain haulier capacity, has adversely affected grain quality and compromised feed or food safety. The Department of Transport also asked stakeholders if there had been any instances of higher moisture grain not being accepted or downgraded from food / malting grade to feed grade due to delivery delays related to insufficient haulier capacity and does a shortage of grain haulier capacity combined with recent, wet weather present an urgent and exceptional risk to grain quality and food and feed safety this harvest.
I am further advised that the Department of Transport did not receive any clear evidence on foot of this question, and on this basis refused the appeal.
