Ahern: No decision on M50 tolls

No decision has yet been made on four proposed new tolls on the M50 motorway, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern told the Dáil tonight.

Transport Minister Martin Cullen announced on Friday that the barriers at the Westlink Plaza would be abolished within two years but four new electronic tolling booths would be set up.

However Mr Ahern said today: “There has been no decision made about any new toll locations on the M50.”

The Taoiseach said the Government was awaiting a traffic flow report from the National Roads Authority on the issue before taking any action.

Labour leader Pat Rabbitte claimed Cabinet ministers had no understanding of the punishing delays for commuters.

“Of all of the hare-brained, half-baked, off the top of the head, mismanaged solutions to a problem, this beats anything that either Minister Cullen or this Government came up with to date,” he said.

“Is there any understanding [in the Government] of the punishment taken by the long-suffering motorist, and the prospect of installing four new tolls.

“If Minister Cullen seeks to go ahead with this the motorist on the M50 will string you up from the nearest gantry and they would deserve to do so.

The Labour Party has criticised the NRA decision to toll the entire M50 motorway by 2008 as a way of squeezing more money out of motorists.

Independent Senator Shane Ross has said it was frustrating for people who had campaigned for an end to the barrier toll system that it is going to take at least two years.

He said he believed new tolls would be designed to catch many more people in the net.

Mr Rabbitte cited Transport Department figures that claimed an extra 2,200 trucks will use the M50 as soon as the Port Tunnel opens.

He said this volume represented the annual increase in traffic through the Westlink Bridge.

“It’s outrageous,” he added.