The Government will “consider” deferring a looming toll, Jack Chambers has confirmed. 

Last year, the Government announced toll increases on Irish motorways would be deferred for six months as part of a range of measures to tackle the cost of living crisis.

In July, the increase kicked in and tolls went up in line with inflation.

A further increase is expected but the Minister of State at the Department of Transport has hinted a rise could be pushed back again.

“The toll increases are linked to the consumer price index,” Minister Chambers told Newstalk. 

“Where the consumer price index increases with inflation, that’s built into the contracts for toll companies.

“So, it’s very much set from a contractual basis.

“However, I recognise as Minister that a second toll increase in the space of six months would put many motorists in a difficult position and I think it will have to form part of the wider budgetary discussions that Government will be having over the coming weeks.”

BWH7DC bilingual road sign for the M1 M50 dublin port tunnel toll Dublin republic of ireland

Minister Chambers noted the Government has previously deferred toll increases and said he and his colleagues “would have to consider [doing so again] in the context of the budget in the coming weeks.”

Budget 2024 is due to be held in October and the European Union has forecast inflation will drop to 2.6% at some point next year.

Tolls were first introduced in Ireland in 1984 and the money raised by them is used by Transport Infrastructure Ireland to maintain the road network.

Main image: Split of a driver paying a toll and Jack Chambers.