News that toll charges in Ireland will increase next year has been met with anger from the Irish Road Haulage Association.
Increases are planned on 11 of the country’s roads, with increases of at least 10 cent added to journey costs.
The price rise comes after a 20c rise in the cost of petrol over the past year, with fuel prices reaching record highs, and so hauliers are unhappy about another financial burden being put on them.
The Irish Road Haulage Association says it will cause further difficulties for haulage companies who are already struggling with high operating costs and small margins. The Association is hoping that the government will provide the sector with some form of relief to compensate for the increase. Support of this kind, it is argued, would help to prevent job losses and company closures in the struggling haulage industry.
The rises are also a blow for hauliers and travel companies who run journeys into Ireland from the UK and Europe. Companies travelling internationally and into the Eurozone should set up European fuel cards to help them manage the fuel costs and charges in other countries.