Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 5: To ask the Minister for Transport if he is committed to open road tolling; the steps he has taken to expedite this matter; when the necessary legislation will be published; the cost of its introduction at the West Link toll bridge; and the timescale proposed for the new system to be in place. [9823/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Open road tolling, that is, the collection of tolls by automated means in a barrier free environment, is the optimal means of toll collection where the traffic volumes and toll revenues justify the investment required. The only route where a move to full open road tolling, that is, no manual collection and barrier free, is being considered, however, is the M50. The move from the current toll arrangement on the M50 to a barrier free facility would be completed over a number of stages, involving a phased reduction in the cashier-coin basket lanes with a corresponding increase in payments by automated toll collection methods. The objective on other toll schemes, where the traffic volumes and toll revenues would not justify full open road tolling, will be to continue to provide a mix of manual and automated toll collection facilities.

The legislative changes necessary to facilitate the implementation of barrier free tolling on automated toll collection lanes on other toll schemes through the implementation of appropriate deterrents for non-payment of tolls have been the subject of consultation with the National Roads Authority, the National Toll Roads and other companies with an interest in the operation of toll plazas. I anticipate, subject to the other priorities on the legislative programme, that the draft legislation will be introduced in autumn of this year.

I understand from the NRA that the cost of implementing barrier free tolling on the M50 has yet to be determined and will depend on the outcome of negotiations with NTR. The NRA is aiming to complete the move to barrier free tolling to coincide with the completion of the upgrade of the M50.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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My question has been superseded somewhat by the comments of the chief executive of the NRA yesterday to the Joint Committee on Transport. He indicated that the NRA is examining the possibility of buying out the NTR contract, removing the tolls on the West Link bridge and replacing them with demand management tolls on the approach roads. It is an interesting proposition which has much merit. Does the Minister wish to comment on it? Is he aware that the NRA is examining this matter? What is his opinion of that approach to tolling on the M50?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of what the new chief executive of the NRA said yesterday. However, I believe there has been an over-interpretation in the reporting of his remarks. The impression has been given that there is an immediate prospect of the toll plaza being bought but that is not the case. The income stream from the toll plaza is funding the upgrade of the M50. It is an important stream of finance.

In the future there will be issues surrounding traffic into Dublin and demand management will legitimately arise in the context of how the M50 is used by consumers. However, it is not an immediate prospect. That should be made clear because I got the impression today that this is a matter that is under negotiation in a detailed way. There are no proposals on my desk or in the Department of Transport.

I met NTR recently and told its representatives in unequivocal terms that I am anxious to move to barrier free tolling as quickly as possible. I do not accept that a timeframe of four or five years is necessary to achieve it.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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I agree that it should not take that long. I asked the Minister to comment on the proposal which is emerging from the NRA. It is a cost neutral proposal. The NRA is not talking about removing the tolls but about facilitating free flow on the M50 and replacing the existing tolls with demand management tolls on the approach roads. There would be no cost to the State. Is the Minister well disposed to that proposal? It appears to have much merit. Buying the NTR concession would be expensive but the Minister could maintain a revenue stream and recoup the cost of buying the NTR concession through new tolls on the approach roads. Obviously, it is a complex legal issue but if the NRA can resolve that, it would hope to bring firm proposals to the Minister quite soon. Is the Minister well disposed to that approach and does he anticipate supporting it in the future?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of it in the context of the general issues being considered to make Dublin a more accessible city and how to manage its traffic. In that context, it is a legitimate part of that process. However, to be fair to people who use transport, be it public transport or private cars, to reach that point it will be necessary to have the new public transport infrastructure in place before making such a dramatic change. I am not convinced that doing it in isolation would be an immediate success. It would if the investment were already in place and much of the——

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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It frees up the M50.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The solution to freeing the M50, and I am open to correction on this, is badly needed investment in public transport facilities. That is my focus at present.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The Minister is dodging the issue.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I am not.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The Minister's approach is at variance with that of the NRA.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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It is not.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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It is.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The wrong impression was given yesterday.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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No——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Shortall, we must proceed to Question No. 6.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Would the Minister object to buying out NTR?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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If it is a good deal for the State, I would not.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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In fairness to other Deputies, we must move on to the next question.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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It would have to suit the Exchequer and the taxpayer.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Minister must reply to Question No. 6.