Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 March 2014
1265. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the outcome of discussions with British Transport Ministers and at the North-South Ministerial Council in relation to the serious difficulties facing the Irish haulage industry, particularly in the Border area, due to the new road user levy on HGVs weighing 12 tonnes or more for the use of roads in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13611/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am very aware of the concerns of the Irish haulage industry regarding the introduction of a HGV road user levy by the UK parliament effective from 1 April 2014. I have expressed the Irish Government's concerns on a number of occasions to both the UK and Northern Ireland authorities regarding the impact this levy will have on Republic of Ireland hauliers and businesses. I have sought exemptions for roads in Northern Ireland to reduce the impact of the levy on Irish hauliers and businesses on the basis of the Irish Government's contribution towards the cost of roads infrastructure in Northern Ireland. The issue has also been discussed at transport sectoral meetings of the North South Ministerial Council.
I met Stephen Hammond M.P., Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport last month and again pressed this issue at that meeting. Clause 3 of the UK HGV Road User Levy Act 2013 allows the UK Secretary of State to vary the extent of the scheme by order. The UK has proposed to exempt approximately 7 miles of cross-Border road between the Republic and Northern Ireland. This would allow all operators to use these stretches of road without paying the levy, as it would be a breach of EU legislation to grant an exemption to just one country. The UK authorities have been quite clear that they are not open to exempting all Northern Irish roads from the levy. In this context, at the meeting with Mr Hammond, I proposed that an exemption be given for the A5 route, as it is often used by operators starting a journey in the Republic and transiting Northern Ireland to deliver goods to another location in the Republic. It was agreed that further consideration would be given to this proposal, and my officials are continuing to engage with the UK Department for Transport on this matter.
