Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I am giving this reply to the House on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Noel Dempsey, who is unavoidably absent. I note that this issue has for many years been close to the heart of Senator Ross. I have had the opportunity to listen to the Senator speaking in the broadcast media and read his comments in the print media, and I know he has highlighted such issues over many years in various forums.

As Senator Ross knows, the Minister for Transport is responsible for national roads policy and funding. However, the detailed planning, design and implementation of all aspects of individual road improvement schemes, including such matters as the removal of the toll barriers at the West Link on the M50, is the responsibility of the National Roads Authority under section 17 of the Roads Act 1993. Furthermore, the statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, to make toll by-laws, and to enter into toll agreements with private investors in respect of national roads is vested in the NRA under Part V of the Roads Act 1993, as amended.

The Senator will be aware that it is Government policy under Transport 21 to address the issue of congestion on the M50 as a matter of priority. The M50 has experienced massive traffic growth in line with economic and employment growth and increased car ownership rates. Average annual daily traffic flows on a number of sections of the M50 are greater than 85,000 vehicles and major congestion occurs at peak times. The solution to this is the upgrade of the M50 along with the move to barrier-free tolling. A key part of the M50 improvement strategy is the transition to barrier-free tolling, which I understand from the NRA is on schedule to become operational in August 2008, as mentioned by Senator Ross in his contribution. This will entail the removal of the current West Link toll plaza and its replacement with a fully electronic barrier-free tolling system that will allow drivers to travel unencumbered along the M50.

I emphasise that in outlining the barrier-free tolling arrangements to the Government in 2007 the NRA indicated that the changeover would not entail any special increase, other than periodic inflation-related increases, in the basic toll level for users with electronic toll tags. The expected electronic toll of €2 from August 2008 is in line with these indications. However, it is clearly important for the efficient operation of the electronic system that the fullest possible level of participation is encouraged. To that end, an incentive for participation is provided by the application of higher toll charges for those who elect not to use electronic tags. This is normal practice in toll systems around the world.

I am pleased to have the opportunity to update the House on the progress being made on the M50 upgrade project. The project, which involves widening of the M50 to three lanes, with a fourth auxiliary lane in places, and upgrading of the interchanges, will have significant benefits, as it will expand the capacity of the M50 to deal with at least 50% more traffic than at present; improve average peak-hour speeds; reduce traffic congestion on the radial routes, particularly the N3, the N4 and the N7; and improve traffic flow on the whole Dublin road network.

The upgrade of the M50 is being carried out in three phases. Work on phases 1 and 3 are either complete or close to completion. Phase 2 will be fully completed in 2010. Work on phase 1 of the upgrade is now well advanced and on schedule for completion in the autumn of this year. The upgraded N4 and Ballymount junctions are now fully open to traffic and the mainline section of the phase 1 project, at almost 8 km, is now open with four lanes — three plus one auxiliary lane — in each direction. Road users are already experiencing the benefits this improvement has brought to their everyday commutes. Work is continuing on the N7 junction, commonly referred to as the Red Cow junction, sections of which have already been completed. The junction is due for completion in the autumn of this year.

Phase 2 of the upgrade is well under way, with a target completion date of 2010, while phase 3 is now complete, with four lanes now open to traffic. The total cost of the upgrade is approximately €1 billion and, as has often been the case with national road schemes over the past few years, it is on target for completion on time and within budget.

I will conclude by pointing out that road users will continue to see significant benefits being delivered on the M50 during 2008 when the first phase of the motorway upgrade is fully completed and barrier-free tolling is in place. Further improvement of the M50 will take place on completion of the final stage of the upgrade in 2010.

I assure Senator Ross that I will bring the specific issues he raised in his contribution to the attention of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Dempsey. As I mentioned, I have listened on many occasions to Senator Ross speaking on this issue in various broadcast media and read his comments in the print media. He has, to say the least, been a tenacious campaigner on tolling and the M50.