Government must scrap planned toll hikes says Longford TD

SINN Féin TD for Longford-Westmeath, Sorca Clarke, has called on the government to support commuters and scrap their planned poll hikes.

Deputy Clarke was speaking ahead of Sinn Féin’s Dáil motion on Tuesday that calls on the government to immediately rule out planned toll increases, warning that working people and families are being hit with yet another unfair cost increase at a time when the cost of living, including the cost of driving, has sky-rocked.

The motion also calls on the government to conduct a review of current tolling policy and the impact they have on workers and families who are already squeezed by the rising cost of living, to examine options for relief schemes and to review all PPP toll contracts to ensure value for money.

Deputy Clarke said: “These planned toll increases must not go ahead. People are already under enormous pressure from the surging cost of petrol and diesel. The government’s decision to add on yet another cost feels like a slap in the face.

“For many workers, there is simply no alternative to using these roads. Whether it is people travelling to work, dropping children to school, attending hospital appointments or running a small business, motorists are already paying through the nose. Increasing toll charges will only pile further pressure on household budgets.

“What makes this particularly frustrating is that there is a clear precedent for stopping these increases. Previous toll hikes have been suspended, and there is absolutely no reason why the Government cannot do so again.

“The Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien, also has serious questions to answer. When he was seeking votes during the General Election campaign, he publicly argued that toll increases should not proceed. Now that he is in government, he appears willing to stand over the exact opposite policy.

“People are entitled to ask what has changed. The Minister should honour the position he took before the election and intervene to prevent these increases from taking effect.

“While he failed to do this last year, he now has another opportunity to show ordinary people just whose side he is on. After all, the companies operating these tolls are raking in significant profits.

“This announcement comes on top of public transport fare increases and a steady stream of additional costs being imposed on workers and families. Rather than helping people with the cost of living, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are determined to make everyday life more expensive.

“Sinn Féin’s position is clear. The government must ensure that neither tolls nor public transport fares are increased.

“The reality is that many communities, particularly outside our major cities, remain heavily dependent on private cars because of inadequate public transport. Until viable alternatives are in place, motorists should not be treated as a cash cow.

“This decision shows just how out of touch the Government has become. At a time when people need relief, Ministers are signing off on yet another increase in the cost of getting to work and getting home.

“The Government must step in, scrap these planned toll increases and start focusing on reducing the cost of living rather than adding to it.”