Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

​I thank the Deputy for his question. As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding for the national roads programme. The planning, design and operation of individual road projects is a matter for TII under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Furthermore, the statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, to make toll by-laws and to enter into agreements relating to tolls on national roads is vested in TII under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 as amended. The contractual arrangements relating to tag interoperability are therefore entirely matters for TII and are commercially sensitive.

TII has briefed my department on the position and it is the case that, with effect from 31 August, eFlow tags will no longer be accepted at toll points on the M1 near Drogheda, the M7 and M8 near Portlaoise and the M25 Waterford bypass. I have been informed by TII that the toll collection agreements previously in place expired earlier this year and that while a new agreement has been concluded with other toll operators, unfortunately eFlow has not been able to reach an agreement with the company which would cover these three toll points. It is not, therefore, the case of eFlow withdrawing its tags.

I understand that eFlow is in the process of contacting all types of customers to advise them of the change and will provide assistance to customers who wish to switch to another tag provider. There is no cost associated with switching tag providers for customers, but all tag providers charge an account management fee.

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