Plans to increase toll charges on the M50 motorway around Dublin were condemned yesterday by Fine Gael and Labour, who both blamed the Government for the increased cost to motorists.
Fine Gael transport spokesman Fergus O'Dowd said the new toll regime would cost most commuters up to €30 a week, or €1,440 a year, for sitting on the gridlocked motorway while cars with Northern Ireland and overseas number plates would not have to pay a thing.
"Proposals to move to barrier-free tolling on the M50 are welcome in so far as they will ease traffic congestion and get rid of the toll barriers for once and for all.
"But the new toll charges being proposed by the National Roads Authority are so punitive for commuters and commercial drivers that they hardly seem worthwhile."
Mr O'Dowd added that the proposed new €3 toll would cost regular commuters an average of €30 a week. Although motorists will have the option of signing up for an electronic tag and paying a lower toll this will carry its own monthly charge.
"The higher charges being proposed reflect the fact that electronic tolling is expensive to administer. With tolls for cars rising by €1.10 per journey, and by a €1 for commercial vehicles, it begs the question whether electronic tolling is at all worthwhile.
"The cost of the technology is pushing up the cost of the new tolls, and it amounts to taxing people for the privilege of getting to work. Neither is it fair because the only alternative is to use local roads. But the whole point of the M50 was to take traffic off local roads and out of residential areas. The lack of viable public transport alternatives makes this tax all the more unfair."
Mr O'Dowd said that to add insult to injury, drivers with cars registered in Northern Ireland and abroad would get off totally free because the authorities would not go the extra mile and invest in the necessary technology.
Labour's transport spokesman Tommy Broughan also criticised the toll charges facing drivers using the M50 from August of next year as being completely unjustified.
"The introduction of barrier-free tolling has long been promised and is very welcome. Most drivers hope it will reduce the congestion at the M50 toll plaza. It now seems, however, that the introduction of barrier-free tolling on the M50 is being used as an excuse to impose exorbitant charges on long-suffering commuters who have no choice but to use this congested motorway. Drivers already face a regular increase from €1.90 to €2 from January next."
Mr Broughan added that the announcement that from August 2008 motorists with tags would pay €2, those with a registered debit account €2.50 and motorists with neither a pre-paid tag nor account will face a charge of €3 every time they cross the motorway was outrageous.
"There is no realistic public transport alternative for the majority of M50 users and Irish motorists are in effect being held to ransom at this location with the imposition of these disgraceful price hikes."
