Possible new road tolls

h57xiucj2z946q · 23-07-2010 3:13pm #1

What are the chances of this coming into effect?

Im pretty sure they will have our roads in perfect condition if and when this is introduced. :rolleyes:

A plan to introduce tolls on national routes has been branded absurd and a serious attack on rural Ireland.

The proposal is one of several reforms of local authorities estimated to save the taxpayer more than 500 million euro. Reducing the number of senior council officials, increasing driving licence fees and axing the "off-road" exemption for motor tax have also been mooted.

But motoring group AA said introducing a toll on non-motorway roads would be inefficient and costly. Conor Faughnan, AA director of policy, said: "This makes absolutely no sense at all. The only purpose here is to raise extra money from motorists. Even if we accept that motorists will pay more taxes, using tolls to collect them is extremely inefficient and very costly."

Mr Faughnan said if the Government chose to add just one cent per litre to the excise duty on petrol and diesel it would raise around 25 million euro for the state.

The Labour Party said it would not support the tolling proposal.

Ciaran Lynch, Local Government spokesman, said: "While the report contains many positive recommendations, I would take serious issue with the proposal that provision be made for tolling national roads.

"This is a nonsense and represents another serious attack on rural Ireland. People who live in rural areas served by national primary routes already pay road tax, income tax, VAT and a myriad of charges. Expecting them now to fork out hundreds of euro a year just to pop down to the shop for a loaf of bread, or to take their children to school is a bridge a too far. This is not a proposal that I can support."

Key local government reforms include slashing the number of county city managers from 34 to 24, directors of service by 20%, senior and middle managers by 15%; new tolling schemes on national roads; hiking planning fees; removing the "off-the-road" facility allowing car owners to self-declare vehicles as not in use; increasing a ten-year driving licence fee from 25 euro to 40 euro, and a replacement from 15 euro to 30 euro.

Mr Gormley said the recommendations would help authorities operate in a more cost-effective way, thereby helping economic recovery.

Chambers Ireland said the bulk of the estimated 511 million euro must be passed on to businesses in the form of lower rates and other reduced charges.

Source: http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/national-news/road-toll-plan-branded-absurd-2270556.html

Sanjuro · 23-07-2010 3:14pm

Selling the M50 toll bridge off to a private company probably seems like a stupid idea in retrospect, eh, government?! The lack of foresight in the Dail boarders on comedic.