The Government is currently due to begin restoring excise duty on petrol and diesel from 1 November, following an earlier decision to postpone the increases originally scheduled for September and October. However, with diesel prices remaining above €2 per litre at many filling stations, Harris has indicated that allowing the tax increase to proceed may no longer be appropriate.
Speaking in the Dáil on Thursday, Harris said providing certainty on excise for the winter was something the Government “can do and something that we will do”. The precise arrangements are expected to be set out as part of Budget 2027 on 6 October.
Under the current timetable, the full restoration of fuel taxes would add a total of around 32 cents per litre to diesel, introduced in stages between November and the end of February. The reductions were introduced earlier this year as the Government responded to sharply rising energy prices.
The Irish Road Haulage Association has been pressing the Government to maintain support. After a meeting with Harris last week, IRHA president Ger Hyland said he received no firm commitment but left with the impression that the excise reductions could be extended beyond 1 November.
Diesel rebate still falls in October
Even if the November excise increase is postponed, however, hauliers face another change first. Ireland’s enhanced Diesel Rebate Scheme is scheduled to end on 30 September. Since January, qualifying operators have been able to claim a maximum rebate of 12 cents per litre. From 1 October, the maximum rebate falls back to 7.5 cents per litre, according to Revenue. That represents a 4.5-cent-per-litre reduction in support for eligible road transport operators. For a truck consuming 30,000 litres of diesel over a year, the difference would amount to €1,350 if the lower rebate applied throughout that period.
The Government has not yet announced any extension of the enhanced rebate. The final shape of its fuel-support measures is expected to become clearer when Budget 2027 is presented on 6 October.
