The Dairy Executives’ Association (DEA) has raised concerns about the ongoing impact of the fuel and energy crisis on its members working across the co-operative sector.

DEA said its members “are experiencing significant cost pressures in their day-to-day roles, particularly those required to travel extensively”.

The union said it has been contacted by members who report that current mileage and subsistence rates are no longer sufficient to cover the real and rising cost of fuel.

DEA general secretary Niall Sherlock said: “Our members are feeling the impact of this crisis directly.

The DEA confirmed that it will be engaging with management across affected co-operatives to seek a review of mileage and related allowances to ensure they are fair and reflective of current conditions.

Road Transporters Support Scheme

In addition, the union has expressed concern regarding the structure of the Road Transporters Support Scheme (RTSS), which currently excludes co-operatives that operate their own transport fleets.

The RTSS was recently announced by the Department of Transport and is intended to support the haulage and coach sector.

It will be modelled on the Licenced Haulage Support Schemes of 2022 and 2023, which were set up to assist the sector with the higher fuel prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The RTSS will provide direct payments to haulage and coach operators.

Payments will be graduated, with smaller businesses receiving a proportionately greater level of support.

Sherlock said: “We fully support the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) in its call for the scheme to be revised so that all transporters involved in milk collection and feed delivery, whether directly employed or contracted, are treated equally.

“We support ICOS calls for this scheme to be revised in order to protect permanent employment, and ensuring that short-term policy decisions do not drive long-term structural change that ultimately harms workers.”