Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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729. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to reduce the rate of tolls in order to comply with the ruling of the European Court of Justice (details supplied); the arrangements in place for motorists to reclaim VAT on tolls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17903/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy in relation to roads. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects on national roads are a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII, formerly known as the NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the relevant local authority. For regional and local roads it is a matter for each respective local authority.

More specifically, the statutory powers to levy tolls on national roads as well as regional and local roads, to make toll bye-laws and to enter into toll agreements with private investors are vested in TII (for national roads) and each local authority (for regional and local roads) under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the Roads Act 2007).

The position with regard to VAT on tolls is that TII absorbed the imposition of VAT within the pre-existing toll charge. By that I mean VAT was shown as part of the total toll charge. From 1st April 2017, the toll charge will no longer show a VAT element. There is no variation in the overall cost and there has been no variation in the overall toll cost since 2010.

Noting the above position, I have referred the matter to TII for a more detailed reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.