Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 July 2017
1375. Deputy Maria Bailey asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the 23% VAT rate reduction on the M50 toll charge which was introduced in April 2017 will be passed on to motorists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35886/17]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy in relation to roads. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects on national roads are a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII, formerly known as the NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the relevant local authority.
More specifically, the statutory powers to levy tolls on national roads, to make toll bye-laws and to enter into toll agreements with private investors are vested in TII under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the Roads Act 2007).
Resulting from a Decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union, VAT on tolls charged by TII was abolished. This was implemented by TII with effect from 1 April 2017. Prior to that date the position with regard to VAT on tolls was that TII absorbed the imposition of VAT within the pre-existing toll charge. By that I mean VAT was shown as part of the total toll charge. From 1 April 2017, the toll charge will no longer show a VAT element. There has been no variation in the overall toll cost since 2010.
