As government strategists flail around looking for new ways to raise cash, a proposal to toll existing roads has been slammed by a local MEP.
Jim Higgins Fine Gael MEP for Ireland North West and Ireland’s only MEP on the European Parliament Transport Committee described the report drawn up by the NRA which identifies existing roads which could be tolled, as “a plan which defies logic".
Speaking outside the Parliament Chamber in Brussels, Mr Higgins said that he could not understand why existing roads would be subject to new tolls.
“The purpose of tolls is to fund the capital construction costs of the road in question. Placing a toll on roads which the State has already paid for is simply madness.”
In relation to the tolling of the M50, Jim Higgins said that he found it strange that Ireland is the only place in Europe where bypasses or ring roads are tolled.
“The purpose of these roads is to take traffic off other roads. Charging for use of these roads is a disincentive to motorists to get on to them in the first place.”
Roads leading into Galway have also been identified in the report as routes that could incur a toll for motorists using them. “While the construction of the motorway between Gort and Crusheen is most welcome, we now hear that a road which was never supposed to be subject to tolls, will in fact have toll booths,” Mr Higgins said.
“I know the country is in difficulty, but last year according to the AA, the M50 collected €95 million. A quarter of this money was spent on administration necessary to collect the tolls. There are better ways of charging for road use, and tolls should be used sparingly, and only on roads which cover long distances,” concluded the North West MEP.
