Motorists should not have to pay tolls for Jack Lynch Tunnel
At local authority level I have fought long and hard against tolling the said tunnel, taking into consideration that a considerable amount of taxpayers’ money has been invested already in the construction of the tunnel and its ring road system.
The tunnel was designed primarily to divert traffic away from the city centre. If tolls had been placed on the tunnel it would have defeated the purpose for which it was built, with very damaging environmental repercussions.
Substantial monies were allocated by the EU towards the cost of this tunnel and other such developments and, in my opinion, it would be a breach of EU law for the minister to sanction tolling on this road and the new inter-city roads.
If these proposals are approved, the EU Commission may be asked to consider whether this State is in breach of its international obligations.
Road tolling is a stealth tax. It is a lucrative business for the toll operators and because of its monopolistic features it is unlikely that it will ever become price-sensitive. The Irish motorist is the most taxed in the world.
Between road tax, petrol tax and huge taxes of cars, motorists are paying more than enough for the privilege of driving on Irish roads.
Motorists currently pay €6 billion in various taxes and that figure is increasing. Less than one third of that amount is returned to road investment.
The imposition of further road tolls would mean extra transport cost for businesses and manufacturers and would add to the already high cost of transport and competitive disadvantage suffered as a result of Ireland’s peripherality.
I appeal to the Minister for Transport, Arts and Sport, Leo Varadkar, who has the final decision on tolling the Jack Lynch Tunnel, to quash the idea that the motorists and workers of Cork City and County can be milked of even more money.
My thanks to the minister, in anticipation.
Cllr Noel Collins
Midleton
Co Cork
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