Motorists overcharged on toll roads

MOTORISTS are being overcharged on some of the country’s busiest toll routes because of the failure of toll operators to pass on price reductions, it emerged yesterday.

Several toll road operators have failed to reduce charges on the country’s motorway network in line with inflation, according to the National Roads Authority.

The NRA confirmed yesterday it is in dispute with four toll operators over the applicable toll rates for 2011. The NRA maintains that the operators of five tolls — the M1 at Drogheda; the M4 Kilcock-Kinnegad bypass; the M6 Galway-Ballinasloe; the M8 Fermoy bypass and the N25 Waterford city bypass — were required to lower their tolls from January 1 last to comply with by-laws governing the price of tolls.

Legislation relating to toll roads stipulate that the price of tolls reflects changes in inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index.

However, the NRA said that only one of the five toll operators — N6 Concession — which operates the Galway-Ballinasloe toll on the M6 had reduced its toll from €1.90 to €1.80 for cars. Similar reductions of 10c for cars should also be applied to the tolls at Drogheda, Fermoy and Waterford which currently charge €1.90 for a single car journey. The Kilcock-Kinnegad bypass on the M4 should see its charge drop from €2.90 to €2.70 for cars.

A NRA spokesperson said that the toll operators were interpreting the by-laws governing the maximum charges for tolls differently. It is understood the NRA is applying to the High Court for a judicial review of the toll operators’ refusal to lower their charges.