A number of toll charges across Ireland’s road network are set to increase from January 1, with southbound prices in the Dublin Port Tunnel rising to €13 during morning peak hours.
There will be a 10c increase for unregistered cars without a tag or video account travelling along the M50. However, cars on eight other national toll roads across the country will not face increases except for those on the M4 Kilcock to Kinnegad, when the charge for cars will also rise by 10c.
The toll changes were announced today by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). It said toll increases could not exceed the rate of inflation.
Speaking in the Dáil today, Mr O’Brien said he would like TII and the tolling companies to “reflect on their proposed increases and not to proceed”.
The Fianna Fáil minister had issue in particular about the proposed €1 hike – from €12 to €13 – on the Dublin Port Tunnel southbound carriageway during morning peak times.
“I honestly think that for that to rise – and apparently TII and Dublin Port Tunnel are saying that’s to help with the flow of traffic – I think anyone in this city or county who sees the flow of traffic through the port tunnel at the moment will know it’s not working as it should, and it’s been metered and people are being delayed.
“I have actually written to the Minister for Transport (Eamon Ryan) in relation to tolling. To be clear, though, the Minister for Transport does not set the toll rates.”
He told Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty, who raised the escalating costs for motorists: “I am certainly concerned. And I would like TII and the tolling companies to reflect on their proposed increases and not to proceed with them.”
There are 10 toll roads in total on the national road network, with the M50 eFlow barrier-free toll and the Dublin Port Tunnel operated on behalf of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).
Tolls will rise for unregistered cars on the M50 by 10c, bringing the toll charge for those vehicles to €3.80. It does not apply to motorists with a registered tag or video account, who will not face any toll hikes on January 1.
Unregistered buses, coaches and lighter goods vehicles without an account will be subject to a 10c increase, bringing the charge to €4.80.
Heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) exceeding 10,000kg with an account will be subject to a 10c increase, with a 20c increase on the way for those without an account.
The change at the Dublin Port Tunnel will come into effect in order to preserve capacity for HGVs, which have free travel through the tunnel at all times. Other tolls at Dublin Port Tunnel remain unchanged for next year.
There will be a 10c increase for buses, coaches and HGVs travelling on the M1, M3, M4, M7/M8 ,M8, N18 Limerick Tunnel, and N25 Waterford toll roads.
It will bring the toll charge to €4.10 in these cases, with the exception of HGVs not exceeding 3,500kg travelling on the M3 only.
Heavy goods vehicles exceeding 3,500kg on the M4 Kilcock to Kinnegad are also an exception and will face an increase of 20c.
Toll charges will remain at €2.30 for cars on these eight roads operated under the Public Private Partnership model, except for cars on the M4 Kilcock to Kinnegad where there will be a 10c increase.
The level of tolls charged is regulated though an inflation-adjustment mechanism. Inflation was calculated at 1.7pc for the period from August 2023 to August 2024, which has been used to set the new rates of certain tolls from January 1.
The income from tolls collected by TII is combined with Exchequer funding to pay for the maintenance of national roads.
