Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As I have said, the setting of tolls is a statutory function for TII and in those contracts there was a connection between toll increases and the CPI. The Deputy mentioned a few services that relate to the maintenance of our national roads and motorways, but asset renewal is a key part of that and probably one of the biggest cost implications for both public roads and roads that have a toll, so we maintain the asset for the long term. Anyone who has any knowledge of construction knows inflation is having an impact on the inputs when it comes to protection and renewal. Notwithstanding that, it is set out in the original toll contracts that there is a relationship to the CPI. That is set out clearly from a contractual perspective and that is why the increases must go ahead on 1 July. The Government took a decision to defer that increase for six months so it would not impact motorists for the whole of 2023.

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