The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) has expressed deep disappointment at the Government’s failure to support Ireland’s haulage sector in Budget 2026.
While the continuation of the Diesel Rebate Scheme is welcomed, IRHA President Ger Hyland said this alone falls far short of what is needed to secure the future of an industry under severe financial pressure.
“We asked for a fair and practical package to help hauliers survive rising costs and drive decarbonisation. What we got was the bare minimum, simply keeping an existing measure in place. That’s not progress, it’s standing still,” said Hyland.
Mr Hyland says the industry is being strangled by excessive taxation. He wrote to and met with Minister Paschal Donohoe before the Budget outlining four key priorities for Budget 2026 which he says are essential for the survival of a haulage industry in crisis.
Key priorities
1. Biofuel/FAME Rebate – 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.
2. Biofuel (HVO) Rebate – 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% CO₂ reduction.
3. Maintain the Existing Diesel Rebate Scheme (DRS) – Given that diesel will remain essential to Ireland’s economy for the foreseeable future, the IRHA calls for the continuation of the DRS at least until the current 2030 mandated end date, ensuring supply chain stability.
4. M50 Toll Relief for Licensed Hauliers – 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.
The IRHA pre-budget submission detailed how these measures could be fully funded within the current economic and tax framework, requiring no additional state expenditure.
Mr Hyland concluded: “Budget 2026 is an abject failure for the Irish haulage industry. This will have knock-on consequences for the Irish economy as more hauliers go out of business. We now have higher diesel and fuel costs with no incentives from government to turn towards green measures and more environmentally friendly fuels.”
“A heavy tax burden is making the haulage industry unviable. If the government doesn’t 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.”