Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

The proposals for additional tolls on the M50, for using the Jack Lynch tunnel and in other places were originally made in the local government efficiency review report last year. No decisions have been made on the matter which is still open to consideration by the Government. As I have said several times, if it was to happen, it would not happen for a number of years and would require EU approval. There would be upsides and downsides to doing this.

The existing tolls on the M50 are needed to pay back the money spent to pay for the bridge. The primary purpose of the Dublin Port tunnel toll is as a control measure. It has been reduced; it is now €3 off-peak and could be further reduced, but the tunnel is for use by HGV traffic from the port. While we would be open to considering a reduction in the toll in order that more people would use the tunnel, anyone who uses it ends up very quickly at the roundabout just before the River Liffey and the last thing we want is for the tunnel to be heavily used in order that traffic backs up into it, which would be unsafe.

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