M50 upgrade 'on target'

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

A senior department official has also told the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee that the State did not pay over the odds in the deal it struck to lift the M50 toll bridge.

Tom O'Mahony, Secretary General to the department, told the PAC that the deal with National Toll Roads represented good value for the taxpayer.

"The benefits that are being delivered will outweigh the costs that were incurred," Mr O'Mahony said.

"The users of the M50 are now benefiting from a vastly improved service."