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Irish operators call for a diesel rebate as prices soar

17th August 2006, Page 18
17th August 2006
Page 18
Page 18, 17th August 2006 — Irish operators call for a diesel rebate as prices soar
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Irish hauliers are angling for a fuel duty rebate and a reduction in fees on one of the country's new bypasses. Guy Sheppard reports.

IRISH HAULAGE leaders are asking for an essential-user rebate on fuel duty to cushion the impact of rising diesel prices. A similar plea was rejected last year but the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) says since then its case has been strengthened by the global jump in the cost of oil.

Last month (July) a litre of diesel cost €1.12 in Ireland, compared with €1.43 in the UK (C(43 August).

ERNA spokesman Jimmy Quinn predicts that diesel prices will top €1.20 in Ireland this month.

"We're asking for a duty rebate which would be available to [foreign] companies filling up in this country as well," he says.

-If a truck uses 1,000 litres of diesel, €367 is paid out in fuel duty. A €0.05 rebate would save the haulier €50 which could he the difference between loss and profit." The rebate idea, which would only apply to companies with a haulage licence, will be pursued in the run-up to the Irish government's Budget in December.

Irish hauliers are also campaigning to be granted for bigger discounts on tolls for a new bypass around Fermoy near Cork, which is due to open later this year.

The proposed tolls would be up to €3.70 for trucks, but Quinn says hauliers have so far only been offered a 10% discount if they use electronic tags.

"We'd be looking for a sliding scale of between 10% and 30%," he adds. "Some guys in that area reckon they'll be spending €100,000 a year on the toll." He warns that Fermoy will remain one of the worst traffic bottlenecks in the country unless the tolls are set at a more reasonable level.