Richard Bruton
Ceist:124 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the projected annual revenue from road tolling of new roads or sections of road under the National Development Plan 2000-2006. [27382/01]
Written Answers. - Road Network.
The statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, to make toll by-laws, and to enter into toll agreements with private investors in respect of national roads is vested in the National Roads Authority under Part V of the Roads Act, 1993, as amended by the Planning and Development Act, 2000. Local authorities have similar powers in respect of non-national roads. Under the Planning and Development Act, 2000, ministerial approval is no longer required for toll schemes, by-laws and agreements. In accordance with the revised Part V of the Roads Act, 1993, these matters have been brought fully within the remit of the National Roads Authority or the relevant local road authority, in the case of national and non-national roads respectively and I have no responsibility for these matters.
The National Development Plan 2000-2006 envisages significant private sector investment in national road development: some £1 billion of the £4.4 billion – 1999 prices – provided for national road improvements in the NDP is to be contributed by public private partnership financing, based on user-tolling. That approach is now being taken forward by the NRA. The annual revenue which will be generated from tolling of new roads or sections of road will be determined by the volume of traffic using the tolled road and the level at which the toll is set. The level of toll for each new national tolled road will be set out in the relevant tolling by-laws, which are a matter for the NRA.