NRA losing €100k weekly as motorists fail to pay M50 toll

AN AVERAGE of 35,000 motorists using the new barrier-free toll on the M50 in Dublin each week are failing to pay the €3 toll within 14 days, despite being sent a warning notice by the operators of the controversial system.

The National Roads Authority (NRA) admitted yesterday around 10% of all users of the Westlink bridge on the M50 fail to pay the toll by the stipulated deadline of 8pm on the following day, resulting in losses of more than €100,000 per week.

As the AA described the new billing system as “a mess”, the NRA admitted that its administration proved more difficult after a quarter of the 150-strong workforce at the E-Flow call centre in Newry left the job after just one week, partly due to the abusive and threatening behaviour of callers.