Haulage industry being ‘strangled by excessive taxation’

The haulage industry is being “strangled by excessive taxation”, the Irish Road Haulage Association has said, appealing for rebates in today’s budget.

Ger Hyland, Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) president, has written to minister for finance Paschal Donohoe outlining four key priorities for Budget 2026, which he says are essential for the survival of a haulage industry in crisis.

Mr Hyland says that IRHA proposals will support transport decarbonisation, bolster Irish supply chains, and help to protect essential jobs in rural Ireland.

The first priority is a biofuel/FAME rebate, whereby licensed hauliers would receive a rebate on the non-fossil fuel component of diesel, similar to the current diesel rebate scheme, encouraging the uptake of lower-carbon fuels while mitigating additional costs imposed on the sector.

Rebate

Secondly, a rebate for HVO biofuel would mean operators using 100% hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) would qualify for a triple “green rebate”, reflecting higher costs and lower energy content, supporting a pathway to achieve up to 90% CO reduction, he said.

Given that diesel will remain essential to Ireland’s economy for the foreseeable future, the IRHA calls for the continuation of the existing diesel rebate scheme — at least until the current 2030 mandated end date, ensuring supply chain stability.

Finally, they have called for M50 toll relief for licensed hauliers, explaining: “To reduce disproportionate toll costs imposed by new city centre restrictions on haulier, the IRHA proposes toll relief for licensed hauliers on the M50, administered via a licence plate recognition system similar to the diesel rebate scheme.”

Measures

The IRHA submission also detailed how these measures could be fully funded within the current economic and tax framework, requiring no additional State expenditure.

Mr Hyland said: “These proposals provide a realistic and sustainable path for decarbonisation while safeguarding competitiveness.

“Budget 2026 is an opportunity to ensure that Ireland’s transport sector can transition effectively without jeopardising the functioning of the supply chain.

“A heavy tax burden is making the haulage industry unviable. If the government doesn’t use this budget to take sensible measures to save our industry, they risk killing off the very engine that keeps this economy moving. We are the wheels on Ireland’s economy. When we stop — Ireland stops.”