Toll increases are 'tone deaf' amid pressure on haulage industry, IRHA warns

From January 1, tolls on most of the country's roads are set to rise, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has confirmed. Picture: Denis Minihane.

Toll increases are "tone deaf" given the mounting pressures facing the transport industry, the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) has warned, saying the hikes will add to inflation for Irish households.

From January 1, tolls on most of the country’s roads are set to rise, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has confirmed.

Among the roads affected are the M50 and Dublin Port Tunnel, with tolls increasing across all vehicle categories.

For motorists using a tag or video account on the M50, the toll will rise by 10c per trip, to €2.70 and €3.30 respectively. Those using the road without an account will face a 20c increase, bringing the toll to €4 per trip.

Tolls on roads operated under public-private partnerships, including the M1, N6, M7/M8, M8, N18-LT and N25WF, will increase by 10c. The M3 Clonee to Kells toll will remain unchanged.

For goods vehicles weighing no more than two tonnes, tolls will increase by 10c for those using tags or paying without registration, and by 20c for video account users.

For heavy goods vehicles weighing more than two tonnes, the M50 toll will increase by 20c or 30c.

From January, vehicles using the Dublin Port Tunnel to travel towards Dublin city between peak hours of 6am and 10am will pay €15.

TII said the change was being introduced to "preserve capacity for heavy goods vehicles accessing Dublin Port", following "increasing volumes of traffic being experienced in southbound peak period."

Hauliers condemn toll increases

IRHA president Ger Hyland described TII’s decision as "tone deaf given the mounting pressures facing the transport industry".

He said the announcement came at a "particularly difficult time for Ireland’s transport sector, which is facing a perfect storm of rising fuel costs, ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and significant financial pressures."

"Transport operators are already struggling to remain viable, with businesses closing on an almost daily basis. Against this backdrop, the decision by TII to introduce further cost increases demonstrates a worrying lack of understanding of the challenges currently facing the industry," Mr Hyland said.

He called on the Taoiseach to arrange an immediate meeting to intervene, adding that increases in traffic volumes had already "significantly bolstered the profits of toll booth operators across the country."

“Our toll booths are profitable and make millions on the backs of motorists and hauliers. On the one hand, government is giving hauliers and ordinary motorists support to keep their vehicles moving, and another branch of government is increasing taxes on motorists and hauliers at a time when most transport operators are one toll away from bankruptcy.” 

Mr Hyland warned that the toll increases would lead to further inflation for Irish households.

"This toll increase will lead to higher supermarket prices, higher inflation and is just another tax on hard-pressed motorists and Irish households. They will now pay more for bread, milk and eggs because we will have to pay more to deliver those items.”