Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank my colleague, Deputy O'Rourke, for tabling this motion to stop the hike in toll charges on our motorways. Sometimes I believe the Government is living under a rock when it comes to the cost-of-living crisis. The crisis is real. It is real for the people of my constituency, who are making a stark choice between eating and heating. The cost-of-living crisis is real for the many who will be struggling this Christmas. While I am glad that the Government crawled out from underneath its rock, caved in to the political and public pressure and announced the deferral of toll charges for six months, this does not go far enough.

The excuse that the increases are in line with inflation simply does not wash. Ordinary workers and families have not seen their wages rise with inflation. On the M50 alone, tolls of €140 million were collected in 2021.

People who drive to work or drive for a living are already affected by increases in the prices of petrol and diesel. To impose further increases on them was just unfair. I want to know who is in the driving seat. Is it the Department of Transport, the Minister, the National Transport Authority, NTA, or TII? Is the Minister simply asleep at the wheel?

Workers in Liffey Valley have been adversely impacted by recommendations of the NTA and TII on the introduction of car parking charges for workers. I have supported the workers, who have been on strike 16 October. Information I received from South Dublin County Council stated paid parking was a condition-of-planning requirement for the redevelopment of the car park in Liffey Valley. This condition was strongly recommended by both the NTA and TII during the planning process. In the same correspondence, South Dublin County Council states sustainable travel policies are aligned with those of the NTA and TII and that it therefore supports the "reasonable" travel costs, which entail the introduction of paid parking at Liffey Valley. While the imposition of car parking charges on workers by a vulture fund is reprehensible, Government policies have allowed it to happen. We need a change of policy; we need a change of Government.

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