UP to 30 local haulage drivers could lose their jobs after the company they work for moved to the North.
Bradley transport, based in Buncrana, has pulled the plug on its operations here because of rising taxes.
Peter Bradley from the family-owned business in Buncrana told Jobs Minister Richard Bruton that they’d been left with no choice because of the massive costs and taxes on the haulage industry on this side of the Border.
“The move is saving €150,000 alone in road taxes,” said Mr Bradley.
“I have 40 drivers. Thirty of them are from here in Donegal and ten are from Derry.
“But I’m now being told the staff from Donegal cannot continue to work for us in the North.”
Mr Bruton expressed shock at the claim which was made during his visit to Letterkenny.
He told Mr Bradley – whose sister Michelle is an outgoing Buncrana town councillor – that freedom of movement of workers under European rules would prevent the UK authorities from making that ruling.
Bur Mr Bradley said that’s what he had been told, casting a doubt over the future of his 30 Donegal-based employees.
The shock news emerged at the minister took questions from local business people at a conference at the Station House Hotel yesterday.
A number of new jobs initiatives were shared with the crowd, including a large range of tax breaks for companies, some of which have never been claimed by businesses here.
There were a number of complaints about high rates, high taxes and the re-introduction of the higher rate of PRSI in January.
Vincent McNamee, owner of the Wonder Years creche at Rossbracken in Letterkenny, said this had put a huge strain on his business, costing tens of thousands of euro.
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