Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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472. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount paid in 2013 and estimated will be paid by the end of 2014 in subsidies to private toll operators due to lower than expected traffic numbers. [30377/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme.  The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects  is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Furthermore, 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 National Roads Authority (NRA) under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the Roads Act 2007). The contracts which give rise to the compensation referred to by the Deputy were entered into by the last government and have resulted in considerable on-going costs to the taxpayer. I have not entered into any similar contracts during my tenure as Minister.

Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy’s question to the NRA for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.