Sinn Féin spokesperson on Transport and Communications, Martin Kenny TD, has called on the government to rethink their approach towards motorists after another increase in toll charges was announced today.

The latest increase, which will take effect from New Year’s Day, will be the second in six months.

Teachta Kenny said:

“For this government to introduce a second toll increase in six months is absolutely and utterly scandalous. What is even worse is that the government was more than aware this was going to happen as far back as the summer.

“We had the typical Fianna Fáil kite-flying during the summer from Minister Jack Chambers, who warned of a second increase and said the government would have to ‘look at that’ – yet they failed to follow it up with a deferral in Budget 2024 just two months ago.

“As part of our Alternative Budget process, one of my key priorities was including a deferral of any expected toll increase until such a time that these toll contracts could be renegotiated.

“Sinn Féin committed €31m to put a stop to toll increases. Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, and the Greens committed absolutely nothing.

“These toll roads are a necessity across the state. People use them everyday to travel to work, to bring children to school, and to attend medical appointments in different parts of the country. Indeed many people who travel from more rural areas do not have an alternative to private transport or the use of a toll road.

“This Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael government, supported by an out-of-touch Green Party with a fixation on forcing people off the road, are continuing a campaign aimed at stretching costs for ordinary, hard-working people across the country.

“I am calling on Minister Chambers to really assess what this second toll hike will do to already hard pressed motorists.

“Fianna Fáil is a senior government partner overseeing the decimation of the motor sector. They have the opportunity here to stand up to the Greens and defer these hikes.”