M50 toll traffic diversion
Deputy Gogarty argued that tolling on the M50 causes traffic diversion through local areas like Lucan and urged a different tolling approach. The Minister said he would raise the matter with the transport authorities and the Minister for Transport.
The policy of charging tolls on the M50 has been raised on multiple occasions. I would agree with the abolition because it has been long paid for.
However, I want to take it from a slightly different angle, which is the need to stagger the tolls along the route. In my constituency, areas like Lucan are choked with traffic going through the village every evening, with people avoiding paying the tolls. It has a knock-on effect on the Strawberry Beds, Castleknock, Mulhuddart, Blanchardstown and Clonee. If people are going to be stuck in traffic anyway, they may as well be stuck in traffic on the M50, crossing over the bridge, because this is no longer a thoroughfare between Cork and Belfast. It is used as a local link route. We may need a wider road west of Kilcock, for example, and obviously an improved public transport system. To stop that localised congestion, we need to look at creating a staggered tolling system. That would be fairer and helpful.
Comment on this
I thank the Deputy for raising that with me. I am not sure what influence the Department of Transport and the National Transport Authority have on the conduct and level of fees on the toll road that the Deputy referred to.
Comment on this
All I can commit to doing is raising that issue with them, which I will do. I know well how important that road is and the fact that it is used more and more to get around parts of Dublin as opposed to beyond Dublin. I will make sure the Minister for Transport is aware of the issue the Deputy raised.