Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 194: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has had recent meetings with the National Roads Authority; the details of these meetings; if the matter of tolling was raised during these meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6849/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I met today with the Board of the National Roads Authority. I discussed the overall implementation of the national roads programme and corporate governance matters. I have also on occasion met with the Chairman, Chief Executive and other officials of the NRA on specific policy issues. No meeting of this type has taken place recently. My Department also maintains regular day-to-day contact with the NRA in relation to policy and funding issues in respect of the national roads programme and in relation to corporate governance of the Authority. I understand that tolling issues are occasionally discussed at these meetings.

However, I should point out that as Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme element of Transport 21 while the implementation of individual national road projects is a matter for the NRA and the local authorities concerned. I should further clarify that the statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, to make toll bye-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 by the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the Roads Act 2007).