Government and opposition TDs have criticised planned increases to M50 toll prices from January 1.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland announced on Wednesday (October 29) that road users will be charged an extra 10 cents per trip.
The TII said that all categories of vehicles using the M50 will experience an increase, with the exception of unregistered motor cars without a tag.
The organisation added that the tolls pay for “the annual protection and renewal of national roads.”
With the cost-of-living crisis showing little signs of abating, Southside TDs have questioned the necessity of an increase in consumers’ expenses.
Fianna Fáil TD Shay Brennan said, “the TII has a responsibility to clearly set out the reasons behind these toll increases.”
“Unless it can be shown that there has been a genuine and unavoidable rise in operating costs, there is no justification for increasing tolls at this time,” the Dublin Rathdown TD said
Brennan noted that TII has received additional Exchequer funding in Budget 2025 to support road maintenance and improvement works, and in theory, it should help offset rising costs.
“With the cost of living already high, we must avoid placing further financial pressure on commuters and families. Where possible, we need to hold the line on prices and ensure that any increases are truly unavoidable.”
The Fianna Fáil TD said any cost increase should be a “last resort, and not an automatic response to inflation.”
“Just because an agency has the ability to raise charges in line with inflation does not mean it should do so automatically,” he said.
“There needs to be clear evidence that such increases are absolutely necessary and cannot be absorbed internally. State agencies should be absorbing additional costs where possible, unless it is genuinely unavoidable.”
Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe has called the hikes “unacceptable” and placed the blame at the government’s feet.
The Dublin South-West TD said, “this latest toll increase on the M50 and other routes is ill-timed, unwelcome, and unfair.”
“These toll operators can’t lose. They get paid by taxpayers if numbers are down, such as during Covid, and now with an increase despite years of record revenue.”
Crowe said, “commuters with no other choice but to use these routes are forced to pay on a daily basis, and with no election imminent, the parties in government and the so-called independents who back them do not give a damn about the effects of this increase.”
“This latest increase will add yet more costs to hard-pressed commuters who would not be sitting in M50 gridlock every day if they had any other choice. They are being treated like the gift that keeps giving as far as the government are concerned.”