The Government must ‘end the rip-off' and cut the cost of driving.

That’s the call from Pa Daly, Sinn Féin TD for Kerry and the party’s Transport Spokesperson.

Deputy Daly said he wants to see toll charges postponed in light of the costs faced by drivers.

“Irish motorists are paying some of the highest prices for petrol and diesel in the EU,” he told Newstalk Breakfast.

“[The] cost of motor insurance is increasing year after year, despite lower awards – but now there’s another round of toll hikes."

Deputy Daly pointed out that toll hikes were previously deferred in 2023, and also highlighted the profits being made by operators.

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

“Following the last toll hikes, profits for the Limerick tunnel, for example, surged by 10%, to €12 million,” he said.

“The M50 reached €212 million, and €12.5 million of that was in penalties.

“So, what we’re asking is for postponement of that, and we had a private member’s bill in the door, which was to end the penalty for paying motor tax in instalments.

“Because if you can’t afford to pay your motor tax up front, you’re penalised by 5% by having to pay it in instalments.”

'Stand up to insurance companies'

According to Deputy Daly, the law should be amended so that reforms to insurance don’t fall back on customers.

“We are asking the Government to stand up to the insurance companies by implementing a bill that we had before,” he said.

“It was a Judicial Council Amendment Bill so that any savings from all the reforms that have been going on for 40 years don’t go to the insurers, but they are passed on to consumers.”

Deputy Daly said the party is also pushing to “reverse the carbon tax increases”.

Main image: Queues of traffic at the West-Link Toll Bridge before the introduction of eFlow tolling, 27-01-2005. Image: RollingNews