Tóibín blasts toll increases as figures reveal €390 million was collected at barriers around the country
Last year, nearly €390 million was collected in tolls around the country, fresh data released to Deputy Peadar Tóibín under the Freedom of Information Act reveals. Deputy Toibin said Meath commuters are the most tolled in the country.
"My constituents are paying money in Kilcock, in Kells, and on the M50 and port tunnel, on a daily basis on their commute to work in Dublin. Each year the amount brought in by tolls is increasing, and the toll charges appear to be increasing annually too. There is no excuse for these increases.
"Across the country tolls brought in €46 million more last year than the previous year. On the back of that increase in revenue there can be no logical argument for a further increase in charges".
Deputy Tóibín continued: "Ireland is becoming a commuter hell due to a lack of regional investment - large numbers of people in Meath, Louth, Kildare and Wicklow and even further afield are forced to drive to Dublin for work each day. They're spending hours in traffic, paying an enormous price for petrol, tolls, parking and the added costs of childcare due to the length of their commute. This is not tenable.
"Since the very first day I was elected to the Dáil I have pushed for the opening of a Navan - Dublin rail line. It really is the primary solution to all this, and the government cannot continue to stone-wall the issue".
"I think part of the reason that the Government is so resistant to the idea of a rail line for Navan, is because they know it will take traffic off the roads, and that they won't be able to fleece the public at the toll plazas in Meath to the same extent that they currently are.
"The government must commit, before the budget, to halt any further toll increases on publicly owned roads, and to really scrutinise the accounts of the private operators with whom they are in partnership.
“One would imagine, given the rise in use of the e-tag, that overhead costs in terms of staff have decreased for the companies during the period,” he concluded.