Pat Rabbitte
Question:19 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the Government's policy in regard to the tolling of roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18665/00]
Written Answers. - Road Tolling.
The National Development Plan 2000-2006 envisages significant private sector investment in national road development – some £1 billion of the £4.4 billion provided for national roads improvements in the national development plan is to be contributed by PPP financing. Apart from the three pilot projects already identified in the plan, the NRA recently announced a further eight PPP schemes for the national road network. These new schemes, together with the pilot projects will require estimated investment of more than £1,000 million, with a potential private finance input of some £700 million, based on user tolls.
The statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, to make toll by-laws, and to enter into toll agreements with private investors is vested in the National Roads Authority under Part V of the Roads Act, 1993. Road authorities have similar powers in relation to the tolling of non-national roads. The exercise of these powers has been subject to the approval of the Minister for the Environment and Local Government.
Under the Planning and Development Bill, 1999, it is proposed to remove this requirement of ministerial approval of toll schemes, by-laws and agreements. In accordance with the revised Part V of the Roads Act, 1993, these matters will be brought fully within the discretion of the National Roads Authority or the relevant local road authority, in the case of national and non-national roads respectively.
In parallel, the Roads Act, 1993, is also being amended so as to provide for the issue of policy directives to the National Roads Authority or local authorities by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government regarding the exercise of their road tolling functions, with which they will be obliged to comply. Any such policy directives would be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.