Roxetten
Full Member
Wrong.
Eamon Ryan said that he expected the increases in December, not November, and said that no deferral will be made of the price rises if it comes at the expense of spending more money on public transport.
Motorway toll charges across the country will rise to their maximum permitted price in the coming weeks, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) confirmed last week.
The price increases, which TII says are being introduced due to inflation, will come into effect on January 1, 2023.
Mr Ryan told RTÉ's Morning Ireland that he had been aware of the contractually obligated rises, but not their timing.
These are contracts under law. Most of the tolling operators are independent. There are not owned or directed by the Government. They have the right to see an index linking which is what this is. A 10-cent increase in most cases.
"If we did that (deferred the increases) we would have to compensate the private companies because they are entitled to it. If that was the case what I would be very reluctant to do is to take money from what we are spending on which is increasing public transport, increasing road maintenance.
"So, I will sit down and talk to (Tánaiste Leo Varadkar) and look at what other mechanisms there might be."
Taoiseach was not warned about road toll hikes, says Eamon Ryan
Transport minister said most of the toll operators are independent, not owned or directed by the Government
www.irishexaminer.com
