“In reality this is a tax on work,” says Tóibín

Aontú Leader Peadar Tóibín has criticised the increase in tolls which began from yesterday.

Most of the car tolls have risen by 20 cent per journey while charges for heavy good vehicles have gone up by 30 to 50 cent per journey.

On the M3, it has increased 10c to €1.70 while the charge on the M4 is €3.40, a 20c increase.

“The Government is hiking up tolls, again during the most serious Cost of Living crisis in living memory,” Deputy Tóibín said.

“The government is involved in the highway robbery of citizens who are struggling to get the work.

“Commuters are already hammered with increased car prices and increased repair costs.

“Commuters are also suffering high fuel and electricity prices, because of this government.

“Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the Greens hiked up excise on petrol and diesel just 7 months ago, 6 months ago they increased they cost of tolls and three months ago the government increased the cost of Carbon tax on fuel.

“And now at the start of the New Year the same government are fleecing commuters again.

“These costs are a savage imposition of workers.

“In reality this is a tax on work.

“It’s a tax on those who get up early in the morning to keep the country going.”

Deputy Tóibín also questioned why the toll for the M50 is increasing even though the road is owned by the state.

“Tolls and fuel tax are not uncontrolled costs,” he said.

“These are costs that the government are in charge of.

“Its incredible that at this time of cost hardship the government would actively increase transport inflation. Road hauliers have estimated that the changes could see some hauliers burdened with more than €500 in additional costs per truck over the course of a year.

“This cost will eventually be borne by the consumer, adding to the cost of food and every day staples.

“The Minister will say that many of these tolls are contracts out of the hands of the government. But this is not true the M50 Toll is owned by the state.

“It’s is the busiest road in Ireland and it is in reality a cash cow for the government. It is a monument to FF and FG waste and maladministration. These bridges have been paid for by the Irish people over and over again”.

“The two bridges were built at a cost of £58m.

“The company that built it recouped all the construction costs in just 1 year of tolls.

“The M50 Bridges were sold to the state for €600m in 2007.

“The commuters using the bridge have €1.3bn in tolls just in last 9 years. Yet the Minister is hiking up the price again.

“The Minister must get rid of the M50 toll once and for all.”

“But they are doing so without giving people any real alternative.

“Many people cant switch fuel sources.

“Many people cant leave their car behind.

“Many people can only suffer the suffocating financial squeeze with the help of maxed out overdrafts, loans or money lenders.

“I am appealing to the Minister to give citizens a break. I am urging the Minister to stop these toll increases and bin the M50 Toll.”