Calls are being made for toll charges to be abolished as a new report reveals last year's income to be in the millions.

Dublin Port Tunnel brought in €32 million last year, an increase of 18%.

Meanwhile the M50, Ireland’s busiest road, saw its income grow by 12% to €212 million, according to the 2024 annual report by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).

Leader of Independent Ireland and TD for Cork South-West Michael Collins said the profits “being made on the back of the ordinary worker” are “extraordinary”.

“It’s another form of tax in this country, and it’s an unfair form of tax,” he told Newstalk Breakfast.

“If you look to our neighbours in the north, there’s no toll bridge in the north of Ireland.

“Obviously, there’s extra vehicles on the road, we know that, but also the recent increases that were allowed, they shouldn’t have been allowed.”

Deputy Collins said, “drivers have been treated like cash cows” and that it is “unacceptable” that these charges continue in a cost-of-living crisis.

The M50 motorway northbound at the toll bridge at a standstill.Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin. 24/11/2021

He rejected the idea that roads in Northern Ireland are of worse quality and also said that toll fees are not necessarily needed to cover the cost of the M50 and other roads.

“Motorists are paying extra taxes on fuel, insurance tax, wear and tear from cars,” Deputy Collins said.

“Motorists have been hit from every, every direction and this is another hit again.

“We all know that the recent increase wasn’t needed – it wasn’t that they were making a loss.

“They’re trying to squeeze more money out of the same people that are being taxed to death anyway, from every direction they can.”

'Irish taxpayers picking up the tab'

According to Deputy Collins, while toll costs should be abolished in the long run, no further increases should be allowed in the immediate future.

“The TII salaries are gone from €24.2 million to €26.15 million,” he said.

“That’s a lot of money, and sure it’s Irish taxpayers picking up the tab on all this, and now picking up the tab on the tolls.

Deputy Collins rejected the proposal that congestion on the M50 would increase if toll fees were abolished.

“There’s nobody on that motorway unless they have no choice but [to] be on the motorway,” he said.

Main image: A driver pays at a toll plaza. Image: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland.ie