Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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267. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on discussions he has had with his counterparts in Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom in respect of the heavy goods vehicle road user levy; if he will ensure that Republic of Ireland hauliers who use the A5 are exempt from the Northern Ireland road user charge that was implemented on 1 April 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38767/14]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The introduction of the U.K. HGV road user levy in April is an unwelcome additional charge on Irish hauliers, particularly for those operating in the Border areas.  The Irish Government, with the support of the Northern Ireland authorities, initially lobbied the U.K. Government to exempt all of Northern Ireland from the levy.  When this was rejected, the Government sought to have the A5 from Derry to Aughnacloy exempted from the levy, as it is a significant transit route from Donegal to Monaghan and then onto Dublin and Rosslare Port.

The issue was raised both in correspondence and at meetings with the U.K. Minister for Transport and with the Prime Minister.  Unfortunately, the U.K. Minister for Transport rejected our proposals for an exemption of the A5, as is his right under EU law.  The U.K. authorities have however granted an exemption to approximately 7km of roads which repeatedly criss-cross the Border.

I have instructed my officials to explore options with their U.K. and Northern Ireland colleagues to mitigate the effect of the levy on Irish hauliers.