Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 February 2005
159 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Transport when he intends to introduce legislation which will allow for the use of electronic tolling; if it will be possible to convert all existing toll plazas to such an electronic system; and the contracts for new tolling arrangements which are being designed on the basis that they will be collected electronically. [4815/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraElectronic toll collection is in use on existing toll plazas and will be used on all future toll schemes. Electronic toll collection does not require legislation for its use. However, the electronic toll collection systems in place use a barrier as the main enforcement tool. Toll operators do not consider the existing legislative arrangements robust enough to support a move to barrier free tolling. My Department is working on proposals for legislative amendments to strengthen the enforcement provisions relating to non-payment of tolls in a barrier free environment.
