Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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36. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the announcement by eFlow that it is withdrawing its tag service on toll booths at a number of toll booths, including at the M1 near Drogheda, the M7/M8 south of Portlaoise and the N25 at Waterford; if he is concerned that this may cause a significant increase in delays for motorists at toll bridges here; if he has been briefed by eFlow on its decision not to renew its contract with a company (details supplied), the operator of a number of Irish motorways; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22530/16]

Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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I represent Dublin-Fingal, with which the Minister is familiar from the traffic report every morning, as many of my constituents who are not served by public transport or rail links converge on Whitehall and arteries into Dublin city centre from the M1. Our traffic planning is fragile and I would appreciate an update from the Minister on the announcement by eFlow that it is withdrawing its tag service from several tolling booths, including the M1 but also the M7/M8 and the N25.

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​I thank the Deputy for his question. As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding for the national roads programme. The planning, design and operation of individual road projects is a matter for TII under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Furthermore, the statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, to make toll by-laws and to enter into agreements relating to tolls on national roads is vested in TII under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 as amended. The contractual arrangements relating to tag interoperability are therefore entirely matters for TII and are commercially sensitive.

TII has briefed my department on the position and it is the case that, with effect from 31 August, eFlow tags will no longer be accepted at toll points on the M1 near Drogheda, the M7 and M8 near Portlaoise and the M25 Waterford bypass. I have been informed by TII that the toll collection agreements previously in place expired earlier this year and that while a new agreement has been concluded with other toll operators, unfortunately eFlow has not been able to reach an agreement with the company which would cover these three toll points. It is not, therefore, the case of eFlow withdrawing its tags.

I understand that eFlow is in the process of contacting all types of customers to advise them of the change and will provide assistance to customers who wish to switch to another tag provider. There is no cost associated with switching tag providers for customers, but all tag providers charge an account management fee.

Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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As the Minister is aware, our motorway network is part of the vital transport infrastructure in our State and I commend the work of previous Governments to develop the network which improved interconnectivity throughout our country. I ask the Minister, notwithstanding the fact that his responsibilities may not cover this area, to intervene in this matter and work to bring about a resolution. The change is due to come into effect on 1 September, just as children go back to school and traffic returns to its busiest levels after the summer. There is time for the Minister to intercede and resolve the matter.

I refer to the M1, as it is the motorway with which I am most familiar. It links Dublin and Belfast, the two largest cities on the island. It bypasses and serves some of the largest towns in Ireland, such as Dundalk, Drogheda and Swords, as well as the fastest growing town in Ireland, Balbriggan. Any impact on traffic on the M1 has the potential to affect thousands of commuters in all of these towns, including those travelling on express bus services provided by Dublin Bus and other providers which use the Dublin Port tunnel.

The Minister has been given a lot of notice of the change. I accept his response, but if the matter is not resolved the situation could escalate or spread. A major benefit to our motorway network is the electronic payment mechanisms which are accepted and used. We do not want to inconvenience busy people who use our motorways on a regular basis and require them to pay at barriers or in shops.

There are many infrastructural needs in the country, but let us not go backwards. I ask the Minister to nip this issue in the bud and resolve or influence it in any way he can in order that commuters are not inconvenienced. I acknowledge the response of the Minister to a previous question, in which he stated that he will meet TII, and look forward to his positive intervention.

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I will not intervene directly at this stage because it would not be appropriate. The affairs of a private company are involved and a Minister would be very reluctant to become involved, especially when, as far as I can see, this is a commercial dispute about charges.

As I said to Deputy Munster, when I meet TII I will raise the issue again. I will ask what it thinks, if anything, can be done about it because it has an arrangement with eFlow and, therefore, has some influence. I do not have the exact date, but as I said the meeting will take place in the next three or four weeks. We must remember that while customers will be inconvenienced, they have the option to switch or pay at the tolls.

Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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I thank the Minister for his response. I speak as a representative of Dublin Fingal and a supporter of metro north. It is no surprise that there is a regular traffic snarl on a major artery into Dublin city that is not served by rail link. The Red Cow roundabout used to be the headline traffic disaster in Dublin until the Luas came along. The Navan Road was also a blackspot until commuter rail links improved.

We need metro north to be accelerated. The port tunnel is not a solution to the commuting deficit in north County Dublin. When a dispute which has the potential to impact on commuting times occurs, it has an extra impact. Can the Minister sort out this dispute and move on to the next project, namely, the delivery of metro north as soon as possible?

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I am conscious that eFlow has approximately 300,000 tag account customers. I understand it has already notified customers of the change. As I said, it is currently implementing a communications plan to contact all customers, including those who use CRG toll roads by phone, e-mail, SMS and letter. It will also be running a broader communications plan in the national and local media and radio, print and digital media to communicate the upcoming changes and advise customers what to do.

While some communications activities have started, most will commence during early August. I hope that in the meantime the parties involved in this dispute will be able to come to an amicable agreement. It appears that many of the other companies involved in tagging have been able to come to an agreement and have not arrived at the same unhappy outcome. The Deputy can be assured that when I meet TII I will raise the issue and see whether it can do anything without directly intervening.

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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I want to note the co-operation of Deputies and the Minister. There has been a fair balance between everybody, which I appreciate because it ensures that everybody's question receives the appropriate time.