Toll increases cannot be deferred as it could create 'significant' legal issues

The Taoiseach was responding to Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, who called the 20c increase 'madness'

Leo Varadkar told the Dáil that the inflation-linked increases are part of the State’s contract with the toll operators. File picture: Denis Minihane

A planned 20c toll increase due to kick in from January cannot be deferred or it could leave the State open to “significant” legal issues with toll operators, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) first approved the toll increase in October, which is in accordance with the annual rate of inflation as recorded at the end of August, which was 6.3%.