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Eamon Ryan ‘reluctant’ to tackle toll increases if it takes funding from road maintenance

Toll prices on nine roads are to rise in line with inflation.

LAST UPDATE | 21 Nov 2022

TRANSPORT MINISTER EAMON Ryan has said he would be reluctant to reduce toll charges if it means taking away funding for public transport or road maintenance. 

On Thursday, toll road operator Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) announced that it would be hiking toll prices on nine roads in line with inflation, with the M50 toll set to rise by 20 or 30 cent.

The issue was discussed between the three coalition leaders this evening, where Ryan committed to asking his department for options on how to tackle the cost of rising toll charges.

Speaking to reporters at the Fine Gael Ard Fheis this weekend, Minister of State at the Department of Transport Hildegarde Naughton said that the decision to increase the toll charge was made by the TII and that the Government believed it to be poor timing.

Echoing her points, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said yesterday the toll increases should be deferred or reduced, telling RTÉ’s This Week that the Government was not aware of the planned increase ahead of the announcement.

Varadkar did confirm that Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan had been informed of the price increases.

Ryan told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland today that he was aware the increases were coming either in November or December. 

He said the toll operators are independent and are not owned or directed by the Government, adding that they had a right index link increases.

If the Government stepped in to offset the increase, it would have to compensate the private companies, said the minister.

“I would be very reluctant to take money from what we are spending on which is increasing public transport, increasing road maintenance,” said Ryan who added that he would discuss the issue with the Taoiseach and Tánaiste this week to “look at what other mechanisms there might be”.

Speaking to reporters earlier today, the Taoiseach said that the party leaders would be discussing the toll charges at a meeting this evening, adding that the Government would see what it can do to ease the pressure.

“Suffice to say that we are in the middle of a cost of living crisis and the whole emphasis to date has been trying to reduce costs of public services,” Micheál Martin said.

“There are issues obviously that Eamon has highlighted, in terms of the independent nature of TII, but we will see what we can do to try and ease pressure on people.”

Varadkar has said he is not happy with the increases and that they weren’t coming at a good time.

He said the planned hikes were going to the maximum level that the TII could charge but they are not obliged to charge those rates.

TII has 15 public private partnership (PPP) contracts with Government, which consist of eight road toll schemes. 

A public-private partnership is an arrangement between a public authority /Government and a private partner designed to deliver a public infrastructure project, such as a road or toll, and to service it under a long-term contract.

Typically a contract can run from between 25-35 years, after which the asset is meant to go into State ownership. 

In many cases, such as with the East Link Bridge near Dublin Port, the toll remains even after the lifespan of the contract.

Pressure to reduce tolls this year

Ahead of the budget and due to the rising cost-of-living, pressure had been mounting on Government to reduce toll charges, with a number of Government backbenchers and opposition TDs raising the issue. 

At the time, Ryan said that reducing toll charges was not an option being considered.

In June, Government sources said they would be open to reducing toll charges to help motorists who are facing skyrocketing fuel costs but most agreed that Ryan would not go for the idea as it would encourage more driving in cars rather than encouraging people to take public transport. 

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Transport, Meath East TD Darren O’Rourke said the minister “clearly has no interest in bringing toll operators to heel, and is abdicating his responsibilities”. 

“Eamon Ryan needs to take his head out of the clouds, and he must bring all possible pressure to bear on toll road operators and TII to scrap price hikes,” he added. 

“These private companies are already making millions of euro in profit, so how can they, or Transport Infrastructure Ireland, justify increasing toll prices to their maximum permitted level?

“Just last month, for example, the M3 toll operator reported €11m in profit for the previous year,” said O’Rourke. 

He said many commuters are reliant on their private car as Government has failed to put sustainable alternative transport options in place. Any increase in costs for hauliers will also push food prices even higher, he added. 

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    Mute Dave Farrington
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    Nov 21st 2022, 1:38 PM

    Ould Eamonn Ryan ….. the gift that keeps on giving!!!!!

    934
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    Mute Ciaran O'Mara
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    Nov 21st 2022, 5:19 PM

    @Dave Farrington: why should the taxpayer pay for motorists who use toll roads? That’s what would happen if the State compensated the road owners for the increases they are entitled to under their contracts.
    If you dont like the toll then use the free road even if it’s slower. Don’t ask me to pay for you.

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    Mute Dave Farrington
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    Nov 21st 2022, 8:20 PM

    @Ciaran O’Mara: I’d say you are great fun at a party!! As usual the greens want to add more and more taxes and levies to motorists, some of whom have no other financially viable option other than to use this road ie trucks over 5 axles and HGVs. I never asked you to subsidise my personal expenses so off you go . On your bike!

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    Mute Allora
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    Nov 21st 2022, 8:41 PM

    @Ciaran O’Mara: no alternatives. Also try running your little export economy without me and the trucks I drive. You don’t subsidise my road usage I actually run your export economy for which said roads are built. With trucks we don’t need these roads. If its the case that inflation means these tolls need to be increased then let’s increase my wages & rates by the same percentages. Simplistic analysis won’t get you far. Also there is no increase in the maintenance of the M50. I can’t remember the last time l saw road works there and I can drive to Rosslare for free beyond the M50. The M50 needs to be made a freeway again.

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    Mute Ciaran O'Mara
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    Nov 21st 2022, 8:44 PM

    @Dave Farrington: adding taxes is what you are suggesting. If the toll user is not going to pay the extra charge then somebody else will have to. I don’t vote for the Greens by the way.

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    Mute Johnny Kelly
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    Nov 22nd 2022, 7:38 AM

    @Dave Farrington: The greens are not increasing the toll charges. The operators are.

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    Mute Dave Ryan
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    Nov 21st 2022, 1:57 PM

    Was the m50 toll plaza not originally only supposed to be for 10 years till the private/public participation was paid back to the company? I remember it being built and i think thats the lie that was sold to the public at the time

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    Mute Míchael Búrké
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    Nov 21st 2022, 2:28 PM

    @Dave Ryan: you are correct in principle, although I think the duration was longer, maybe 20 years. It opened in 1990.

    133
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    Mute Maria Hickey-Fagan
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    Nov 21st 2022, 3:03 PM

    @Dave Ryan: I think it was the East Link that was 10 years. More lies.

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    Mute Declan Moran
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    Nov 21st 2022, 5:18 PM

    @Dave Ryan:like everything else in this country. A temporary charge never seems to be removed. Total joke. Has been repaid many times over a long time ago

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    Mute thesaltyurchin
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    Nov 21st 2022, 6:33 PM

    @Míchael Búrké: Didn’t we get it back and then have to hire them again to run it, because we are an island of dzopes?

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    Mute David Van-Standen
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    Nov 22nd 2022, 1:05 AM

    @Dave Ryan: If memory serves the language used was, that the toll gates would be removed after the road was paid for. Politicians being politicians said that is literally happened, the toll gates were removed, so the commitment was met, the problem is that the tolls remained even in the absence of the physical barriers.

    The only thing you can trust Politicians to do, is to suit themselves.

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    Mute Carlos André
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    Nov 21st 2022, 1:40 PM

    Does that mean that the salaries of those working in that roads will raise as per inflation? I doubt that.

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    Mute thesaltyurchin
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    Nov 21st 2022, 6:34 PM

    @Carlos André: If they worked for us it would.

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    Mute Derek Lyster
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    Nov 21st 2022, 1:55 PM

    Heard him this morning on radio 1, he talks some tripe

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    Mute Tipper Irie
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    Nov 21st 2022, 1:41 PM

    State they are with the people and want to support us fully during inflation and cost of living crisis. No reduction in fuel taxes and then allow increases in stealth taxes like tolls. Shameful.

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    Mute Gavin Tobin
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    Nov 21st 2022, 1:58 PM

    @Tipper Irie: except there has been a reduction in fuel taxes.

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    Mute Tipper Irie
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    Nov 21st 2022, 3:54 PM

    @Gavin Tobin: actually not in real terms, but hey its the thought that counts. Perhaps next time they will give us a bigger pillow to bite on.

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    Mute Urban Living Dublin
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    Nov 21st 2022, 5:38 PM

    @Tipper Irie: if the goal is to offset inflation, why should the government bring in a reduction in real terms? It would be shooting itself in the foot if it did.

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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    Nov 21st 2022, 1:45 PM

    Like the PDs and the so called Labour Party, Ryan has ensured the Greens will follow them into the dustbin of history. The Greens certainly have valid points, but they are only a baby version of FFG.

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    Mute Brendan O'Neill
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    Nov 21st 2022, 1:40 PM

    Looper.

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    Mute OConnelj
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    Nov 21st 2022, 2:48 PM

    He can have some of my €700+ annual car tax to help repair the roads.

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    Mute Steve Martyn
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    Nov 21st 2022, 1:58 PM

    Gangsters one and all

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    Mute Ciaran O'Mara
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    Nov 21st 2022, 2:23 PM

    @Steve Martyn: feathering their own nests, right? All for one and one for all.

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    Mute Michael Nolan
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    Nov 21st 2022, 3:44 PM

    Does anybody even read anything that he talks about I just go straight to comments ..

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    Mute Gary Kearney
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    Nov 21st 2022, 4:06 PM

    The cost of the cycle lane C2CC is more expensive that the new runway in Dublin Airport per metre, the money is there and plenty of it but he does not want to spend it on anything but cycle lanes.
    The problems with bus services is caused by the NTA under his management.
    All the trees they were cutting down for Bus connects was not for buses, it was for cycle lanes

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    Mute Alan McDonagh
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    Nov 21st 2022, 6:36 PM

    @Gary Kearney: Just remember Mehole and Leo are standing by and allowing this loonatic do what he likes. They couldn’t give a s#ite about motorists, extortion of Vrt and road tax and roads are in bits.
    FFG corruption

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    Mute Mickety Dee
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    Nov 21st 2022, 8:59 PM

    @Gary Kearney: Who cares about a runway in Dublin airport? That cycle lane will get way more use.

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    Mute Dave Byrne
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    Nov 21st 2022, 4:06 PM

    I wonder how much the government paid the toll operators during the pandemic, With the travel ban and people WFH

    93
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    Mute Steve Martyn
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    Nov 21st 2022, 2:00 PM

    They’re all Ga⁵5sters regardless of who is in power. Feathering their own nests

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    Mute Keth Warsaw
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    Nov 21st 2022, 4:04 PM

    Unaceptable.

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    Mute Mike Dé Vere
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    Nov 21st 2022, 3:42 PM

    It’s a pity he wouldnt maintain the road i live on

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    Mute pat seery
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    Nov 21st 2022, 4:44 PM

    He will neve be seen in Goverment Again Tax the Motorist oof the Road

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    Mute Jean Carter
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    Nov 21st 2022, 4:30 PM

    That lad…….What a waste of taxpayers’ money!

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    Mute Steve Martyn
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    Nov 21st 2022, 1:59 PM

    Ga*gsters one and all

    94
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    Mute thesaltyurchin
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    Nov 21st 2022, 6:31 PM

    “If the Government stepped in to offset the increase, it would have to compensate the private companies”… Why are private companies anywhere near this type of infrastructure!… *looks at Fianna Fail

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    Mute Dave Byrne
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    Nov 21st 2022, 6:57 PM

    @thesaltyurchin: A certain FF minister for transport was in charge when all these deals were being done, Like the one if the company operating the toll doesn’t have enough traffic going through the government pays them the difference.
    But if the company makes a profit, they get to keep the lot.
    So it is a win win situation for these foreign companies.

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    Mute Paul
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    Nov 21st 2022, 5:45 PM

    Why is it that the road that travels though the most affluent part of the country which is also served by the most forms of public transport is one of the only roads with no toll?

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    Mute Paul
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    Nov 21st 2022, 5:45 PM

    @Paul: the N/M11

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    Mute Johnny Honest
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    Nov 21st 2022, 6:44 PM

    Too busy spending money on bicycle lanes in ridiculous places causing untold traffic delays around Dublin the dope

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    Mute Dave Hammond
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    Nov 21st 2022, 7:23 PM

    This is only scratching the surface / the govt narrative to switch all cars to electric and stop combustion engines altogether has a MAJOR MAJOR hole in the plan / the total revenues generated a year is around 5bn euro / that’s everything from all road activities / road tax vrt and most importantly taxes on diesels and petrol which is a whopping % of the 2 euro per litre into coffers / and here’s the run while they know they need to push electric sales / guess what / they don’t know exactly how to generate that lost 5bn if you ain’t paying for diesel and the taxes in electric remain low to “help climate “ / some nasty extra motor costs are coming down the tracks to try make up the shortfall / as usual they hadn’t any joined up plan to make the transition / classic Ireland

    27
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    Mute Dave Byrne
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    Nov 21st 2022, 8:29 PM

    @Dave Hammond: Some clown from the ESRI has suggested replacing the 5 billion in revenue from petroleum products, By putting in congestion charges and a distance charge for people travelling between counties.

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    Mute Philip Cooper
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    Nov 21st 2022, 9:04 PM

    Am I missing something or can’t we write laws?

    This idea that this can’t be solved without the government compensating the companies is nonsense.

    There’s no justification for these increases; the toll roads are massively profitable.

    Tell then keep the prices down or we’ll nationalise them, or windfall tax them.

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    Mute Mark Costello
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    Nov 21st 2022, 5:29 PM

    Stick in another set of traffic lights to stop traffic flow and that’ll make up a few more bob ..

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    Mute Wolfgang Bonow
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    Nov 21st 2022, 5:10 PM

    I know, this won’t be a popular opinion, but:
    It’s 20 cent if you have a tag (as you will, if go thru the toll regularly).
    5 working days/week = 10 x toll = 2 Euro/week or a tenner more a month.
    While nobody wants to pay more for anything, is it really that much of a big deal?

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    Mute Johannes Baader
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    Nov 22nd 2022, 9:51 AM

    It is amazing. Irish Government builds roads with tax money and then charges it’s people again to use those roads…….

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    Mute Joe_X
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    Nov 22nd 2022, 12:55 PM

    Another excuse from Minister Ryan. First of all road maintenence if paid for theu other taxation. Secondly, he probably sees this as a way of turning people away from driving when the reality is, all that will happen is people will realise the saving of a few minutes does not compensate the cost of toll and petrol at most tolls and will cause people to use what is only a slightly longer route in most cases. The Shannon tunnel is a perfect example of this in how apart from the rush hour times, it is only a ten minute time saving by using the tunnel. The cost of using the tunnel and the cost of petron used is more than the petrol used by going down the Dock road.

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