Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I understand the Deputy's passion and I understand why she is doing this. I did say that it is with regret that I have decided that this request will have to be turned down. I made a pledge that I would contact Celtic Roads Group, CRG. The Deputy is absolutely right about that. I made a pledge that I would be in contact with TII about this. The Deputy is absolutely right in that regard. I met the Deputy to discuss this matter at some length and I have taken trouble with it. I contacted CRG and TII about it in recent weeks. The conclusions are those which I outlined in my response. CRG would certainly need compensation if this was to be done. TII supplied the information I have provided to the Deputy, which simply says that this would set a precedent TII would find difficult to stand over in other cases. It has to be funded from somewhere. If it was done for Drogheda, it would have to be done for a large number of other places located close to tolled motorways and where fleadhs are held. While it would be wonderful if we could open the roads without tolls, it would have to happen in other cases as well. That is why I reluctantly feel that it would not be a good decision.

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