Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for missing some of the meeting. I had a prior engagement. I read the opening statement Mr. Walsh submitted to the committee, but I did not catch all of the interactions that have taken place this evening. I apologise if I repeat points that were already raised. The announcement today of a deferral for at least six months of the increase in toll charges takes some of the heat out of the previous announcement.

I appreciate Mr. Walsh's point that when there is no inflation, there is no increase in charges and, on the other hand, when there is inflation, the contract says there must be an increase in charges. I accept that. The percentage increase in the charges is based on the CPI. Will Mr. Walsh comment on the increase in TII's overheads? The barrier going up and down uses a certain amount of energy. Of course, there is no barrier on the M50. Some people would argue TII is not facing any increase in costs. Reference was made to the increase in the cost of lighting tunnels and so on, which Mr. Walsh said has increased from €1 million to €2.2 million in Limerick. In regard to the costs of running the network, or the parts of the network that are tolled, what are those increases versus the toll increase?