M50 Buyout Welcome, Continued Tolling Is Not

Press Release, 20th February 2007

Catherine Murphy, TD (Ind) has today welcomed confirmation by Minister for Transport, Mr Martin Cullen, that the Westlink Toll Bridge will be purchased back from National Toll Roads by the Government however has criticized the intentions of the Government to continue tolling on the road.

“There’s a disproportionate burden on the commuter here” stated Murphy, “some of the most productive members of Irish society are being charged for going to and coming from work, most of whom would only be too willing to use public transport if a viable service was available.  Not only are these people paying income tax, management company fees, road tax, private medical insurance, income protection, refuse charges, and every other type of charge going but they must also pay to use a road paid for with their taxes.  How is this anything other than a scandal?”

Murphy went on to highlight that while the importance of removing the toll barriers on the M50 cannot be overestimated considering the significant traffic delays caused by the Westlink, through the introduction of a barrier free tolling mechanism commuters would be gaining another monthly or quarterly bill to add to their mounting collection. 

“Barrier free tolling is still tolling, and as bad as it is paying tolls to a private company I don’t see how you can justify charging for the use of a publicly owned  road.  In order to collect these barrier free tolls bills are going to have to be sent to those using the Westlink, and this is going to hit commuters hard.  The same people wind up paying all the same charges, while the Government’s move to re-aquire the Westlink is welcome they must stop this unequal and unfair practice of tolling immediately, especially now that this will be a public road.”

Read Catherine’s Dáil Statement 21st February 2007 on the M50 Buyout

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Posted by catherinemurphy on February 20, 2007. Filed under Latest News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.