Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)

First, I cannot speak for people who made election promises in manifestos. I am here to deal with the question tonight and that is what I am here to do. I note there are 11 toll roads in the State of which ten are on the national roads. The East-Link-Ringsend bridge toll in Dublin is on the local road network. Of the ten tolls, there are two public tolls, namely, the M50 and the Dublin tunnel tolls. Revenue from these tolls is collected directly for TII by operating companies under TII contracts. It also important to say that the toll by-laws for each individual road set out the basis for calculating maximum tolls each year. The maximum tolls are calculated for each vehicle category and TII, which is responsible for collecting the toll, calculates the maximum tolls for the Dublin tunnel and the M50 and decides the actual tolls that should apply. The PPP companies calculate the maximum tolls for the eight PPP concessions and propose the actual tolls that should apply. The mechanism for these calculations is set out in the by-laws. It is important they are there for the maintenance of the road.

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