Guaranteed payments of €4.1m by state agency Transport Infrastructure Ireland to the firm operating the Limerick tunnel helped it to an operating profit of €8.5m last year.

The government could end up paying up to €200m to the Limerick Tunnel operators due to fewer cars using it than expected.

The firm behind the Limerick Tunnel, which is backed by guaranteed payments from the Government, has posted a pre-tax loss of €6.4m.

The southbound bore of the Limerick Tunnel is closed following a five-car pile-up.