Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

The local government efficiency review group recommended the introduction of new tolling schemes on national roads, both new and existing, based on an equitable distribution of tolling points across the national network, with a proportion of revenue being used to invest in local and regional roads. The infrastructure investment priorities document for 2010 to 2016 also refers to the introduction of further tolling on national roads and recommends that additional income generated through tolling should be retained by the National Roads Authority, NRA, to help fund ongoing road investment. In light of these recommendations, the NRA was asked to examine options for a new tolling strategy. I have just received a report from the NRA on options for a future tolling strategy, which I am now considering. At this point, however, no decisions have been made on additional tolling on specific national roads.

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