Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Motorists listening to the Tánaiste will find it incredible, including the people he says he represents in his constituency who use tolls. TII put out a notification last year. Tolls increased this year already across eight roads. That has already happened and the second increase will take effect on 1 January. These tolls are increasing unless there is Government action.

The Tánaiste is suggesting two things, first that they have not increased in the last year. That is not true. They did increase this year. Second, the Tánaiste is suggesting that they may not increase in January. They will increase unless there is Government action. The Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has told us he is not minded to do anything on this. The Tánaiste says the Government was blindsided despite his party colleague who sits at the Cabinet table, the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, saying they were aware of this since early September. It is only now because of public outrage and the fact we are so deep into a cost-of-living crisis that Government Members are scrambling around like headless chickens, not knowing what to do.

People need to know, because there are only a few weeks left of sittings here. What will happen between now and the end of the year? Will the Government intervene? Can the Tánaiste give any assurances that these tolls will not go ahead?

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