IBEC, SFA criticise Dublin HVG ban

Business groups have criticised the new ban on heavy goods vehicles in Dublin city centre.

IBEC and the Small Firms Association have claimed the ban, which came into effect this morning, is adding to transport costs for businesses.

From today, all trucks with five-or-more axles will have to use the Port Tunnel from 7am to 7pm, seven days a week.

There are fears this will cause traffic chaos for commuters, as over 2,000 trucks a day will now be forced onto the M50.

SFA Chairman Pat Crotty wants the plan to be revised: "We are already losing our competitiveness, and adding time to already-long journeys is adding cost to business.

"It doesn't make any sense and to force every truck onto the M50 when the M50 itself is already a building site, or indeed a car-park, whichever you like, is certainly not going to help matters," he said.