Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The key point is not additional money. When we buy National Toll Roads' rights on the road for €50 million, the income will come back to the State for upgrading the M50. It will not be a case of double money because NTR will cease to receive it. That is how the contract will operate. We made the decision and there has been no change. One year ago, I said in this House that the NRA, with the agreement of the Minister for Transport and the Government, decided the arrangement with NTR under the 1987 agreement for the collection of tolls on the West Link until 2020 would end and those discussions have continued for eight months. NTR has to be compensated in line with an agreement entered into by the Government and the local authorities and we are duty bound to deliver. The Minister will conclude those agreements in the next few weeks.

In respect of the tunnel, Deputy Rabbitte may take issue with the figures but I want to congratulate all the engineers involved. It was the biggest infrastructure project ever completed by the State. The HGV management strategy introduced by Dublin City Council was a tremendous success.

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