Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 552: To ask the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the profit generated by National Toll Roads for operating the East Link and West Link facilities rose by 24% to €26.1 million for the first half of 2005. [29552/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the 2005 interim results published in September by NTR plc. Those interim results indicate that the figure of €26.1 million quoted by the Deputy is the amount of group revenue attributable to roads of a total group revenue of €169 million for the first half of 2005. Group operating profit based on this revenue is declared at €12.4 million. This profit figure is not broken down by sector and includes profits from other business areas.

The tolling of the West Link bridge and agreements relating thereto are matters for the National Roads Authority, NRA, and the toll operator, National Toll Roads, NTR. Issues relating to the operation of the East Link bridge are matters for Dublin City Council and NTR.

Revenues accruing to NTR from the operation of the West Link bridge and the rate of return on the operator's investment are a function, inter alia, of the volume of traffic using the bridge and the operating costs of the concession. Traffic volumes have changed substantially since the agreement was concluded and the bridge opened to traffic. Traffic volumes and growth were substantially lower, both when the agreement was concluded and up to the mid-1990s, to what has transpired since the mid-1990s. The NRA is currently in negotiations with NTR regarding the upgrade of the West Link, including a move to barrier free tolling, as part of the overall plans to reduce congestion on the M50 through the upgrade of the full M50.