Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

55. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the working group that has been established to examine road charging for HGVs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54141/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Following consultation with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, it was agreed that we would establish a working group to look at the feasibility of introducing a road charging regime for HGVs in Ireland in the medium term. Obviously the introduction of any such regime raises a number of issues and will require the input from a wide variety of government departments and agencies. The group will need to take account of issues in relation to the Exchequer impact of a road charging regime, how it would work, the impact this will have on imports and exports, the technology involved in such a system, compliance with European legislation and how it would be enforced amongst other matters.  

My Department will chair this group and preliminary discussions have already taken place between the parties involved. The terms of reference are currently being completed and the group will begin its substantive work in January. The group will report on the feasibility of a road charging regime by the middle of 2014 and following which a decision can be made on whether to implement such a system in Ireland. If a decision is taken to implement such a regime, I will ensure that industry groups such as the Irish Road Haulage Association, the Irish Exporters Association, etc, are involved.