Congestion charges 'will be welcomed once in place'

The DCU conference was told that politicians don't want to lead the conversation around congestion charges, despite the growing body of evidence supporting their effectiveness.

Congestion charges in the country's cities will have to be brought in eventually and will be welcomed by the majority once in place, according to an official in the Department of Transport.

That is despite Taoiseach Leo Varadkar last week saying the charges will not be introduced in the lifetime of the Government or in the near future and the official's own line minister also distancing himself from them.