Plant and machinery contractors are threatening to bring building sites across the country to a standstill next week over the problem of soaring fuel prices.
The Irish Plant Contractors' Association, whose members operate heavy machinery such as diggers, dumper trucks and haulage machines, says they cannot afford to absorb the huge increase in energy costs.
The organisation claims developers that contractors work for are not willing to pay them more than what has been previously agreed in contracts, despite the rapid escalation in fuel prices over the past fortnight.
The IPCA said one contractor who has 400 diggers has seen his fuel costs jump from €300,000 per month to more than €500,000 per month in the course of a week.
Another contractor with 38 diggers has witnessed his fuel costs rise from €2,000 per week to €6,000 per week.
As a result, the IPCA claims contractors are considering stopping work on all building sites from Monday until steps are taken to address the fuel cost issue.
"We’ve got to the stage where equipment owners and operators now have to park up as they cannot afford the cost of diesel," said Brian Coogan, chief executive of the IPCA.
"They have no option but to down tools."
He added that if it happens, the stoppage would continue until fuel becomes affordable.
IPCA members employ more than 40,000 machine operators.
Yesterday, the Government announced cuts in excise duty on petrol, diesel and marked diesel used by such machinery.
However, the IPCA claims the 2c reduction in green diesel has made no difference for its members.
"We realise that the Government can't solve all our problems," said Mr Coogan.
"But we certainly feel there should be a price cap."
Last night the Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said it would not be possible to cap fuel prices here because Ireland is a country that must buy the majority of its own fuel.
"We’re not in the situation where we have access to the majority of our fuel needs from our own sources," he said.
"That means the relationship that we have with external supply is very important.
"For that reason, we’re not in a position to be able to give a commitment in relation to putting a cap on the price of fuel."
Plant contractors are to meet tonight to decide on their next course of action.
Meanwhile, the Construction Industry Federation said it understands the situation plant and machinery contractors are in.
Director General, Tom Parlon, said the organisation would be meeting the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in the next week.
The discussions would centre on materials price inflation, supply chain disruption and managing inflation risk in public services contracts.
