Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 June 2023
161. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport if he has made any representations to the British Government to raise the concerns of members of a hauliers' organisation (details supplied), based in Border counties, in relation to the imminent imposition of charges on them, namely through the lorry road-user charge when they have to transit through the North of Ireland. [30808/23]
View answerThe UK HGV road user levy was introduced in 2014, affecting all UK roads including in Northern Ireland. Prior to its introduction, the Irish Government engaged with UK authorities seeking to have Northern Ireland exempted from the charge because of the potential impact on cross-border trade. The UK authorities ultimately decided to maintain the levy, with only very minor exemptions for Northern Ireland.
The levy was suspended in August 2020 to support the haulage sector during the COVID-19 pandemic – it is now to be reinstated with amendments to align the levy with the environmental performance of a vehicle in support of decarbonisation goals. While it is appreciated that the levy imposes additional costs on Irish hauliers operating across the region, its application is a matter for the UK authorities.
