The Department of Transport today said the upgrade of the M50 is on target for completion next year.

MORE than €12 million in fines has been collected by the National Roads Authority (NRA) this year from motorists who have failed to pay the M50 toll on time.

The Government’s spending watchdog has revealed further examples of lax controls on Government spending in the deal for the M50 Toll Bridge, civilian policing and benefit fraud.

MOTORISTS using the M50 in Dublin could soon be facing a hike in prices on the controversial Westlink toll which began a new barrier-free charging system at the weekend.

THERE could be serious traffic jams around Dublin city over the next week as thousands of motorists who normally use the M50 could take alternative routes to avoid a controversial new barrier-free tolling system which came into effect at midnight.

HAULIERS have decided to call off their threat of a campaign of “civil disobedience” in protest at the new barrier-free scheme on the M50, which comes into effect this Saturday.

HAULIERS are to decide tomorrow if they will boycott tolls on the M50 barrier-free scheme, which begins next Saturday.

The Small Firms Association is accusing the Government and the National Roads Authority of ripping off businesses via new tolling procedures on the M50.

National Toll Roads (NTR) today revealed its preliminary financial results for the year ended March 31 2008, showing attributable profit for the year was €830.8m.

AN ORAL hearing into a proposed animal rendering plant in Tipperary which would be located close to a world-famous, horse-training establishment will get under way next Tuesday.

Preparatory work is set to get underway shortly on the construction of the new M7/M8 motorway scheme around Portlaoise.

THE State will be the main beneficiary of any increase in traffic levels following the removal of toll barriers on the Westlink bridge on the M50.

MORE than 200 objections have been lodged to plans for the construction of a processing plant for animal waste close to the world-famous Coolmore Stud and Ballydoyle Stables in Co Tipperary.

TRANSPORT Minister Martin Cullen last night defended the Government’s €600 million buy-out of the West Link toll bridge despite motoring groups insisting it will have no impact on the M50’s notorious tail-backs.

The Government tonight confirmed a €600m buyout of the West Link toll bridge which will pave the way for barrier-free tolling next year.

A BLOCKADE of a new €200 million motorway may be mounted by truck drivers furious over toll charges.

MOTORISTS face more misery in Dublin in the New Year when charges for the West Link toll bridge increase by 10 cent.

Motorists on Dublin’s M50 will be paying tolls fees for at least another 30 years, the Dáil heard today.

A subsidiary of the company that operates most of Ireland's toll roads has announced plans to build a €50m biodiesel plant in Cork Harbour.

FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny will today tell his party’s parliamentary think-in, in Sligo, that the party is well on course to meet its targeted gain of 30 Dáil seats next year.

NATIONAL TOLL ROADS (NTR) set out its strategic stall for the next five years, which involves an investment of 1.5 billion in its new bioenergy division.

The company that operates Ireland's main toll roads has announced a 5.8% increase in profits in the second half of last year.

The company that operates the East-Link and West-Link toll bridges in Dublin has announced plans to move into the international sustainable energy market.

FIFTY-ONE people have died on Irish roads since January 1, prompting Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to warn last night of an unprecedented garda crackdown on motorists.

The opening of the Dublin Port Tunnel is reportedly set to cause significant extra congestion on the already gridlocked M50 motorway.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday denied the Government has decided to put multiple electronic tolling points in place along the M50 ring road in Dublin after it bought out the Westlink toll bridge.

THE Westlink toll bridge on the M50 will be replaced by barrier-free electronic tolling by 2008.

Transport Minister Martin Cullen turned the sod on an upgrade of the notorious M50 today signalling over two years of traffic disruption for motorists.

The toll plazas on Dublin's M50 motorway are to be removed from 2008.

TWO of the country’s leading public relations companies have agreed to merge.

A consortium including National Toll Roads and Celtic Roads Group has been selected as the preferred bidder for the new N25 Waterford by-pass.

THE removal of barriers from tolls booths at the Westlink Toll Bridge on the M50 motorway will not happen for at least another five years, it emerged yesterday.

The company running the Westlink toll bridge underpaid the state by €2m in toll revenue for two successive years, it emerged tonight.

The company that operates the tolls on Dublin's M50 motorway has announced a 40% increase in its operating profits for the first half of this year.

THE sale of property and shares helped hike up profits at the IAWS Co-op by 166% last year.

National Toll Roads (NTR) is set to spend more than €200 this year developing wind farms and other infrastructure projects, it said today.

Fine Gael's transport spokesperson has said she is baffled why the National Roads Authority (NRA) have advertised for expressions of interest from companies wishing to provide electronic tolling systems on Irish roads.

THE upgrading of the M50 ring road around Dublin will only create a massive car park, the Green Party warned yesterday.

The upgrading of the M50 ring road around Dublin will only create a massive car park, the Green Party warned today.

The company that operates Dublin's East-link and West-link toll bridges has reported a 20% rise in its operating profits for last year.

IT is expected the four West Cork co-ops will have ratified the €42.5 million up-front offer from IAWS Co-op for South Western Services (SWS) by the weekend.

THE National Roads Authority (NRA) is to make recommendations to the Government on how to reduce congestion on the M50 around Dublin.

The National Roads Authority confirmed it is in talks with the Government in a bid to buy up the Westlink Toll Bridge, it emerged tonight.

The Government is planning new laws to fine motorists if they speed through new hi-tech toll bridges without paying any money, it was claimed today.