Business leaders reject truckers profits proposal
The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA), angered at increasing tolls and delayed infrastructure projects, say the tax would inject extra funds into developing roads and rail while doing away with tolls.
IBEC transport spokesman Reg McCabe said the idea was unrealistic and urged a national tolling strategy: “There would be quite a number of sectors, including hauliers, that would be on very low profit margins or even making losses and something like this could even put them into the red.”
IRHA spokesperson Jimmy Quinn said the extra resources generated by the levy could put the National Development Plan back on track: “We are very concerned that parts of the National Development Plan have been delayed for various reasons.”
Earlier this month it was revealed that some elements of the plan are running over budget and at least seven years behind schedule.
“Any delay in completing road infrastructure in the country will have a negative effect on companies, foreign- or Irish-owned, operating in this country,” said Mr Quinn.
Meanwhile IRHA members are to attend a meeting in Dundalk on Saturday at which they are expected to agree to a boycott of the new Drogheda bypass. €The 246m bypass, which was opened earlier this month, will take 15,000 vehicles out of Drogheda and cut the time between Dublin and Belfast by up to 45 minutes.
