Government must scrap planned toll hikes says Midlands TD

Sinn Féin TD for Longford-Westmeath, Sorca Clarke, has called on government to support commuters and scrap its planned poll hikes.

Deputy Clarke was speaking ahead of Sinn Féin’s Dáil motion tomorrow (Tuesday) that calls on government to immediately rule out planned toll increases, warning that working people and families are being hit with “yet another unfair cost increase at a time when the cost of living, including the cost of driving, has sky-rocketed”.

It was announced last week by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) that the cost of tolls on most of the country's roads are set to rise from January 1.

Among the roads planned for increases will be the M50 and the Port Tunnel in Dublin, with all categories of vehicles on the M50 set for hikes. A ten per cent increase is planned for motorists using the M50, who have a tag or video account, while motorists using the M50 without an account will see their toll rise by 20 per cent to €4 per trip. Goods vehicles are set to see similar increases.

Tomorrow's Sinn Fein motion will call on the government to conduct a review of current tolling policy and its impact on workers and families, and to examine options for relief schemes and review all PPP toll contracts to ensure value for money.

“These planned toll increases must not go ahead,” said Deputy Clarke.

“People are already under enormous pressure from the surging cost of petrol and diesel. The government’s decision to add on yet another cost feels like a slap in the face. For many workers, there is simply no alternative to using these roads. Whether it is people travelling to work, dropping children to school, attending hospital appointments or running a small business, motorists are already paying through the nose. Increasing toll charges will only pile further pressure on household budgets. What makes this particularly frustrating is that there is a clear precedent for stopping these increases. Previous toll hikes have been suspended, and there is absolutely no reason why the government cannot do so again,” she added.

Deputy Clarke added that the Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien, has “serious questions” to answer on the subject.

“When he was seeking votes during the General Election, he publicly argued that toll increases should not proceed. Now that he is in government, he appears willing to stand over the exact opposite policy,” she said.

“People are entitled to ask what has changed. The Minister should honour the position he took before the election and intervene to prevent these increases from taking effect. After all, the companies operating these tolls are raking in significant profits. This announcement comes on top of public transport fare increases and a steady stream of additional costs being imposed on workers and families. Sinn Féin’s position is clear. The government must ensure that neither tolls nor public transport fares are increased. The government must step in, scrap these planned toll increases and start focusing on reducing the cost of living rather than adding to it.”