Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on whether it will be necessary within the near future to introduce demand management measures on the M50 as was suggested by An Bord Pleanála, Arup Consulting Engineers, the Dublin Transportation Office and the National Roads Authority at the oral hearing to examine the proposed widening and upgrade of the M50; the road tolling contracts which have been signed over the past year; the additional road tolling contracts awaiting his approval; when he expects such contracts to be agreed; and if he will postpone any finalisation of such agreements pending agreement between the Government and the National Roads Authority on the nature of future tolling arrangements on the M50 motorway. [9208/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I understand from the National Roads Authority that the free flow toll arrangement to be put in place on the M50 on completion of phase 1 of the upgrade in 2008, will be a single point toll. I expect to receive specific proposals later this year from the National Roads Authority on these 2008 arrangements.

The planning permission granted for the M50 upgrade requires that the National Roads Authority publish a scheme of specific demand management measures for the motorway corridor no later than three years after the upgrade has been completed in 2010. For this reason the barrier free tolling arrangements will need to be adaptable to meet the medium to long-term needs that arise and to satisfy the planning permission requirements in that regard. Comprehensive research and analysis will require to be undertaken by the National Roads Authority in the coming years in order to address the post 2010 situation and to submit proposals to the Minister for Transport at the appropriate time.

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 National Roads Authority under Part V of the Roads Act 1993, as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000. Accordingly, individual PPP contracts are a matter for the National Roads Authority and I have no function in regard to the approval or signing of such contracts.

The current position in respect of toll road-PPP projects is that three projects have been completed, namely, second West Link bridge on the M50, M1, Dundalk western bypass, and the M4 Kilcock-Enfield-Kinnegad route. No PPP contracts were signed in 2005. However, I understand from the National Roads Authority that a further three contracts are expected to be awarded in 2006, that is, N25 Waterford city bypass, N7 Limerick southern ring phase II and the N3 Clonee-Kells route. I am informed that the National Roads Authority does not envisage any delays in the awarding of these contracts.