Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 782: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on the fact that the NRA and NTR are answerable to him under the 1993 Act; the reason he will not intervene on this matter relating to people with a disability (details supplied). [24782/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that the matter referred to by the Deputy relates to the payment of tolls in respect of vehicles displaying a disabled parking permit. The position relating to charging tolls is that the statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, make toll by-laws and enter into agreements with private investors in respect of the use of toll revenue to fund national road improvement projects is vested in the National Roads Authority, NRA, under Part V of the Roads Act 1993, as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000. In this context it is a matter for the NRA to determine categories of vehicles in respect of which tolls shall not be payable.

I understand from the NRA that its by-laws for all toll schemes provide that tolls are not payable in respect of "specially adapted vehicles driven by disabled people". It should be noted that the agreement relating to the Westlink is between the NRA and NTR and that NTR is not answerable to the Minister for Transport under the 1993 Roads Act.