Dáil debates
Tuesday, 12 June 2018
Priority Questions
Road Tolls
5:20 pm
Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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38. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the payment structure of the Dublin Port Tunnel with particular reference to the fact it disadvantages commuters from the north side in view of the fact the greater cost is borne in the morning time by southbound traffic and in the evening time by northbound traffic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25538/18]
Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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The Dublin Port Tunnel is a great piece of infrastructure connecting Dublin Port and the East Link Bridge with the M1 corridor and the M50. However, will the Minister comment on the payment structure for the Dublin Port Tunnel with particular reference to the fact that it disadvantages commuters from the north side? The greater cost is borne in the morning by southbound traffic and in the evening by northbound traffic. The key point is the cost of tolls at times when people from the north side are going to and coming from work.
Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this question and I understand the reasons for what he said. As with many of the parliamentary questions, much of what the Deputies say is true but there are very good reasons for certain things happening. As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy on roads. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects on national roads are a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the relevant local authority.
More specifically, the statutory powers to levy tolls on national roads, to make toll by-laws and to enter into toll agreements with private investors are vested in TII under Part V of the Roads Act 1993, as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the Roads Act 2007.
The Government’s decision in October 1994 to proceed with the construction of the Dublin Port tunnel required, in accordance with the DTI strategy, that the implementation of the project would be accompanied by tolling of the tunnel for traffic-management purposes. The purpose of tolling the tunnel was, and is, to ensure that the tunnel performs its primary function of facilitating heavy goods vehicles, HGVs, accessing Dublin Port.
The toll scheme was developed with the following objectives: ensure that the non-HGV traffic would not interfere with the ability of the Dublin Port tunnel to meet its primary objective of providing a high-quality access route for HGVs to Dublin Port; ensure that the Dublin Port tunnel would not cause an increase in car-based commuter trips into the city centre; and limit the potential for traffic congestion, which is undesirable in a tunnel situation, to occur within the tunnel.
The transport strategy for the greater Dublin area, GDA, published by the NTA, provides the framework for the planning and delivery of transport infrastructure and services in the GDA for the period from 2016 to 2035. The strategy identifies a broad range of measures necessary to provide for the efficient, effective and sustainable movement of people and goods in the GDA.
The strategy specifically identifies the need to ensure that Dublin Port tunnel continues to perform its primary function of providing access to Dublin Port for freight traffic. This, in turn, not only facilitates trade but also reduces the impact of freight movements on people who live and work on alternative routes to the port.
5:30 pm
Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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I thank the Minister for his response. I have spoken many times in this Chamber about the fragility of the M1 corridor. Any accident in the Dublin Port tunnel brings traffic on all northside arteries into the city to an absolute standstill, reinforcing the need for the MetroLink to be delivered. For now, commuters from north County Dublin are using this tunnel as a means to get to the city centre or down the eastern boundary of the city through the East Link Bridge. They are being unfairly hit by the charging structure in place.
It costs €10 for southbound commuters between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. from Monday to Friday and northbound between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Those living on the city side of the tunnel and working on the county side pay €6 a day in tolls if they use the tunnel to and from work. This compares with €20 per day for a commuter who comes from north County Dublin or beyond and works in the city, which is a difference of €70 per week. This is plainly unfair. I acknowledge the response outlining the primary function of the tunnel, but the reality is that commuters are using it whenever they can, leading to unfairness.
Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I do not dispute the facts. However, I underline that the primary purpose of this tunnel is to get HGVs to the port and not to encourage commuters to either enter the centre of the city or go anywhere else, particularly at peak times. It would be unacceptable to have congestion in the tunnel at peak times on many fronts and that is the reason for the tolling structure. Of course, it would be everybody's wish that there would be no tolling and, certainly, that the tolls would not be as high as they are in that area, which is obviously a huge expense for people who use it. I imagine if the tunnel were used by a larger number of commuters it could lead to safety difficulties. In addition, congestion would deter people and negatively impact on trade. It is very important that the HGVs can reach their destination, namely, Dublin Port, on time. In the context of Brexit, this will assume even greater importance.
Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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The behaviour of commuters who use the tunnel is driven by the congestion in the city centre, which is also the Minister's responsibility. The injustice to people living on the Dublin's northside has gone on for too long and cannot be allowed to continue. The differential is too great and the price is too high. As a minimum step, the differential should be reduced. With MetroLink in the pipeline, there is a long-term solution to the transport problem in Fingal and along the M1 corridor. In the interim, however, it is the responsibility of Government to make things a little easier for commuters. Dublin Port tunnel made a pre-tax profit of nearly €1 million last year, so there is fiscal space to give something back to the northside commuters who contributed to this massive profit.
The people of Fingal and beyond have no choice but to travel the M1 corridor. In particular, those in towns such as Swords that are not served by a rail link deserve better; they deserve a break. The pricing injustice needs to end and I ask the Minister to do what he can on this. I ask him to remember his past. When in opposition, he spoke with some zeal about the tyranny of tolls and tolling. Commuters using the tunnel are driven by congestion and there must be recognition by Government that as long as that congestion exists, commuters will use the tunnel.
Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I do not blame commuters for using that tunnel and certainly not for the desire to use it. However, I do not wish them to do it. I remind the Deputy that the purpose of the tunnel is to get HGVs to the port on time, to keep traffic out of the port at peak times and to keep traffic out of the city at those times. This tunnel is of great assistance to trade and traffic control. We must accept that they are avoiding it because of congestion in the city and elsewhere. This is just part of the bigger problem which we are addressing as a matter of urgency. It is my wish and hope - it is not a vain hope - that those commuters who are using that tunnel or who are finding it too expensive to do so will soon be moving to a new form of public transport - a change of modal transport that is also cheaper.