€18m support scheme for haulage businesses approved

Funding of €18 million has been approved by Government to assist licensed haulage businesses with cost pressures.

The Licensed Haulage Support Scheme 2023 will be administered by the Department of Transport and will cover eligible heavy goods vehicles authorised on the licence of a current road haulage operator as of 15th December 2022.

It states that this is subject to the operator “satisfying the terms and conditions” of the scheme at the time of application.

The Department says it will soon publish and introduce the detailed terms and conditions of the scheme, an application system, and the required EU State Aid notification.

It says it will also contact licensed haulage businesses directly “in due course” with detailed instructions on how to apply for the scheme.

Minister of State Jack Chambers said the licensed haulage sector is a “specific case” in that it helps to “underpin” Ireland’s domestic and international supply chains.

“Virtually all goods moved into and around the country are moved by road, which makes it a sector of national strategic importance,” he said. “This has been evidenced throughout the recent crises of Brexit, Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine.”

He added that the scheme is designed in such a way to target higher levels of support at smaller operators that are facing increased operating and fuel costs.

“It will therefore be operated on a graduated payment basis, meaning a larger relative level of support for smaller operators.

“Payments per vehicle will be calculated based on €1,200 for the first five vehicles on a licence; €700 for vehicles six to 20; and €200 for each vehicle thereafter,” he stated.