Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will set out the position. Toll revenue is used for purposes that include motorway maintenance, toll collection and operation and for the maintenance of the wider national road network. Nobody is happy about this increase, but these are the facts. The money is reinvested. Returning to the point the Deputy is raising, in a time of inflationary cycles people are at the pin of their collars. This development goes against everything we tried to achieve in the budget. This week, for example, recipients of the fuel allowance will get a one-off payment of €400, while anyone on the living alone allowance will receive a payment of €200. Carers and those on disability payments will receive a one-off payment of €500. This is welcome and will go some way to alleviate the pressures. Moving away from the script, what we heard today concerning an increase in tolls is in total contradiction in this regard. I will certainly bring the Deputy's concerns back. As I said, I was heartened by what the Tánaiste said in the House today. He repeated that twice when the matter was raised, so it is timely that the Deputy raised the issue today.

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