THE TRANSPORT MINISTER Leo Varadkar says more than 300,000 Irish businesses and sole traders will see the cost of compliance with transport regulation cut due to new Department computer systems going live later this year.

The total projected annual savings to business will be €32 million, Varadkar said.

The announcement follows a detailed review by the Department, in conjunction with Sira Consultants, of the impact on business of the following regulations:

• Testing and taxing of commercial vehicles
• Vehicle Drivers’ Certificate of Professional Competence
• Road Transport Operators’ Licence
• Tachograph Regulations applying to vehicles above 3.5 tonnes
• National Car Test
• New Road Vehicle Procedures

The Standard Cost Model was used as the basis for interviews with a sample of the affected businesses, which provided a “detailed and accurate measurement” of the cost of the compliance burden on businesses, the Minister said in a statement. The Standard Cost Model – developed in the Netherlands – was championed by Minister Varadkar when he was Opposition Spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

The following businesses have been marked to benefit from the move: 300,000 owners of commercial registered vehicles; 55,700 professional drivers; 46,879 businesses with vehicles above 3.5 tonnes; 6,249 road transport operators.