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 2010-2016 document also referred to the possible introduction of further tolling on national roads and recommended that any 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. The authority's initial report was presented to me in November 2010. At this point, however, no decisions have been made in regard to additional tolling on specific national roads. I will be informing my Government colleagues about the position in regard to the investigation of options for a future tolling strategy shortly, and consideration will be given to publication of the options report in that context.

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