Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

I thank the witnesses for being here today. It is great to see them. I have raised my objections to the M50 toll increase in January and the inequitable nature of a flat-rate tax basically at a single, fixed point between junctions 6 and 7 that targets the same commuters over and over again. The same communities suffer then from toll avoiders, which means more congestion and pollution in their villages. I asked for a feasibility study to be carried out on ending or reforming the toll on the M50. TII has since sent me details of the outcome of the feasibility study in 2014, which concluded that the current single-point tolling system should be replaced with a variable by time of day, distance-based system with five toll points, including the existing location, with the objective of seeking to preserve the capacity of the full length of the M50 corridor. What was the reaction at the time? I assume that a feasibility study from 2014 would be vary out of date now. Since then, TII has considered potential scenarios after the expiry of the PPP contracts, which I believe start in the early 2030s. This is being considered as Project BRUCE. I am seeking an update on all of that from TII. This is a fact-finding mission today.