Sharon Keogan: Hauliers 'no longer viable' as costs rise
Sharon Keogan told the Chamber that rising fuel taxes, higher road and bridge tolls and new levies are placing unsustainable burdens on the Irish haulage and transport sector, threatening many operators' viability. She called on the Minister to appear before the House to set out what Government will do and whether further supports or regulatory adjustments are being considered.
Opening remark
She welcomed Dr Ong Lennon, author of Vandalising Ireland, to the Chamber before raising the pressures facing the haulage industry.
Main concerns for haulage sector
Over recent months, hauliers have warned that rising fuel taxes, increased road and bridge tolls and new levies introduced since January are placing unsustainable burdens on the industry. Budget 2026 was described as offering the bare minimum of support, with long-sought measures such as enhanced fuel rebates and relief on toll costs largely omitted.
Impact on smaller operators and rural areas
Many operators now fear that narrow margins and accumulated cost burdens are pushing smaller hauliers out of business, with knock-on consequences for supply chains, fuel distribution and rural competitiveness. The speaker cited the collapse of fast-weight couriers as an example of fragility within the broader logistics network, causing job losses and major disruptions.
Regulatory challenges and infrastructure delivery
Hauliers face growing regulatory challenges, particularly around the transport of heavy or abnormal loads, where proposed new permitted rules could add delays and hinder national energy and infrastructure delivery.
Request to the Minister
The speaker asked the Minister to appear before the House to outline how Government intends to respond to these mounting pressures, to detail engagement with the sector, and to confirm whether further supports or regulatory adjustments will be considered to safeguard an industry that underpins the economy.
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I want to welcome Dr Ong Lennon, the author of Vandalising Ireland, a book on how government, NGOs and academia and media are engineering a new globalist Ireland to the Chamber this afternoon. So I wish to raise this afternoon, Cahirloch, the escalating pressures facing the Irish haulage and transport sector, pressures that are now reaching a point where many operators describe themselves as no longer viable. Over recent months, hauliers have warned that rising fuel taxes, increased road and bridge tolls and new levies introduced since January are placing unsustainable burdens on the industry that is fundamental to our economy, especially to rural Ireland where alternatives to road transport simply don't exist. Despite repeated engagement by organisations such as the Irish Road Haulage Association, Budget 2026 offered the bare minimum of support, measures long sought by the sector, including enhanced fuel rebates and relief on toll costs were largely omitted. Many operators now fear that the narrow margins and collected cost burdens are pushing smaller hauliers out of business entirely, with knock-on consequences for supply chains, fuel distribution and rural competitiveness. We have already seen signs of fragility within the broader logistic network, including the recent collapse of fast-weight couriers, resulting in significant job losses and major disruptions. Hauliers also face growing regulatory challenges, particularly around the transport of heavy or abnormal loads, where proposed new permitted rules could add delays and hinder national energy and infrastructure delivery. So, colleagues, I am asking the Minister to appear before this House to outline how Government intends to respond to these mounting pressures, what engagement is underway with the sector, and whether further supports or regulatory adjustments are being considered to safeguard an industry that underpins every part of our economy that is underway with the sector, and whether further supports or regulatory adjustments are being considered to safeguard an industry that underpins every part of our economy. Thank you.
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