M18 toll plan ‘defies logic’

Clare motorists could face a toll to Galway if measures to bolster Government finances touted this week come into force.

Jim Higgins, Fine Gael MEP for Ireland North West, has come out against the possibility of tolling the M18, which when completed, will link Limerick and Galway, bypassing Ennis, Crusheen and Gort.
Speaking after Wednesday’s Irish Independent suggested that among recommendations being formulated for the Government by the National Roads Authority (NRA) was a proposal to toll “all new major road schemes including the Gort to Tuam road”.
The NRA refused to confirm whether tolls are in fact being proposed for any roads in Clare or South Galway.
When contacted by The Clare Champion, a spokesperson for the NRA stated that it is “preparing a report for the Government and no details are available at this time”.
Ireland’s only MEP on the European Parliament Transport Committee, Jim Higgins, described the possibility of tolling existing roads as “a plan that defies logic”.
“The purpose of tolls is to fund the capital construction costs of the road in question. Placing a toll on roads which the State has already paid for is simply madness,” Mr Higgins stated.
“While the construction of the motorway between Gort and Crusheen is most welcome, we now hear that a road which was never supposed to be subject to tolls, will in fact have toll booths,” he added.
In relation to the tolling of the M50, he said he found it strange that “Ireland is the only place in Europe where bypasses or ring roads are tolled. The purpose of these roads is to take traffic off other roads. Charging for use of these roads is a disincentive to motorists to get onto them in the first place.” 
He added that tolls are a most inefficient way of collecting taxes.
“I know the country is in difficulty but last year, according to the AA, the M50 collected €95 million. A quarter of this money was spent on administration necessary to collect the tolls. There are better ways of charging for road use and tolls should be used sparingly and only on roads which cover long distances,” concluded the MEP.
Clare Fianna Fáil TD Timmy Dooley could not confirm if there are recommendations to toll the road because the report from the NRA had not yet been presented to the Government.
“There is nothing decided yet. No decision has been taken to increase the number of tolls. The NRA is preparing a report on a possible new tolls strategy but that has not been received by the Government,” he told The Clare Champion.
“The NRA was asked to review options for a new tolling strategy. The NRA will have to prepare a report and submit it to the Minister for Transport, who will bring these proposals to Government, where decisions will be made on them.
“Any revenue coming from this would go to the NRA in order to protect investment in the existing roads and to fund new projects,” he continued.
“This has been touted in terms of something that came from the report but no decisions have been taken.
“If the Cabinet is going to proceed with that, they will have to take into account the people living and doing business in those areas.
“I remain unconvinced that it would be the best way to proceed. We are already paying considerable road tax and other taxes that help develop our road network,” Deputy Dooley concluded.