An Irish logistics industry association has called on the Government to subsidise the increased costs hauliers must pay to use viable direct shipping routes to access continental Europe.

The recommendation was made by the Freight Transport Association of Ireland (FTAI) submission, seen by the Sunday Independent, to the Government’s 10-year haulage strategy. The FTAI sent its submission to the Government in late July.

According to the submission, the direct shipping routes to and from Europe that avoid the UK landbridge used by some hauliers are more expensive. FTAI has called on the Brexit Adjustment Reserve to be used to subsidise the additional cost to hauliers.

The submission states additional costs – in time, administration, and costs to market – are providing more difficulties to operators in the sector. It requests a system similar to a Public Service Obligation (PSO) established, as it would act to reduce the higher costs for haulage operators to access continental Europe.

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