Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Mar 2003

Vol. 563 No. 1

Written Answers - Road Tolls.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

155 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the role he envisages for toll roads and bridges in the future; the likely impact on the Exchequer in the medium and long-term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7149/03]

Gerard Murphy

Question:

186 Mr. Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the Government's policy in regard to the tolling of roads and motorways; the other funding methods considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7171/03]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Brennan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 155 and 186 together.

The National Development Plan 2000-06 envisages significant private sector investment in national road development. It is envisaged that a proportion of the national roads programme will be implemented by means of public-private partnerships. This will involve private sector funding and will ensure earlier delivery of vital national road infrastructure. Through PPPs, private sector innovation will be harnessed in the areas of scheme design, construction and long-term operation and maintenance.

User tolls are now in widespread use throughout the developed and developing world and are particularly favoured where rapid expansion in major road networks is required. They are a considerably more widely used instrument of roads financing than shadow tolls and more readily permit the transfer of economic risk, which is desirable in PPP projects. While the use of shadow tolls has not been ruled out, road user tolling is, on the basis of the above considerations, more likely to be relied upon in the earlier stages of national roads PPP development.

The NRA's current PPP programme comprises 11 high quality projects spread throughout the country. The position in relation to these projects at present is as follows: the M50 second West-Link Bridge is under construction and is expected to be completed this year; the contract for the Kilcock-Kinnegad project is at final negotiation stage; initial tendering has been completed and bidders have been shortlisted to proceed to the best and final offer stage in the case of both the N25 Waterford bypass and the Dundalk western bypass; the N8 Rathcormac-Fermoy bypass is at tender evaluation stage; the NRA has invited expressions of interest for the M3 Clonee to Kells; and the remaining five schemes are at an advanced design stage which includes the prep aration of statutory documentation for publication.

In the case of the second West-Link bridge, the funding arrangements are subject to the relevant tolling agreement between the NRA and National Toll Roads plc. Funding arrangements for the remainder of these schemes will not be determined until the relevant negotiations are finalised and tolling agreements entered into.

As regards the system of tolling to be used, I have already publicly stated that my strong preference is for a method that utilises the most up to date electronic technology to ensure that there is rapid movement of traffic through the toll booths and traffic tailbacks are eliminated.

I am confident that the modest level of the tolls to be charged, combined with the high quality of the new roads and the greatly improved transport service they will provide, will ensure that the routes are attractive to the vast bulk of inter-urban traffic.

Additional options for funding the national roads programme, including through the National Development Finance Agency, are also being considered by a group of senior officials who will present a report to the Cabinet committee on infrastructure, housing and PPPs shortly.