Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator. I appreciate his point that if the toll is set too high, it could lead to traffic entering city centres. Unfortunately, I was not at the Cabinet meeting today to know whether a decision was taken or whether there was a discussion on this, but I will update the Senator on the matter later today. The Government has identified transport as an area to target for cost-of-living mitigation measures. There was a reduction in public transport fares, both a 20% reduction for everybody and a 50% reduction for young people. Actions were taken like the licensed haulage emergency support scheme and there were reductions in the excise duty of 20 cent on petrol per litre and 50 cent on diesel per litre. Regarding tolls, as I outlined, it is a statutory function of TII and it is under contract with the operator; that does not mean nothing can be done, but it is the TII's statutory area. I think the Senator understands that. What the State will do in response, we will have to wait and see. I will apprise the Senator as soon as I have more information.