One regular user of Ireland's toll roads says he can't understand why prices haven't dropped.
Michael uses toll roads 20 out of 30 days a month for work.
He told Lunchtime Live toll staff were let go, so overheads have dropped significantly.
"I'm wondering why, when the tolls have let all the cashiers go... which is understandable because of COVID and handling money and all that sort of stuff, how come they haven't reduced the toll prices?
"I presume when the tender was done by the government, like all tenders, it would have been costed, it would have been profited, it would have been everything else.
"So now they're making more profit, and saving money on the wages of the cashiers - for starters - and then you've healthcare, you've pensions, you've everything else.
"So there's a lot more profitability there - so why didn't they pass it on?"
Michael admits it's unlikely the prices of using the roads will fall.
"I think it is unlikely, but you'd wonder why is it unlikely?
"It could get into a bigger debate.... where tenders are placed by government and there seems to be no accountability for how the money is spent".
'That really adds up'
Shane O'Donoghue, editor with Completecar.ie, says Ireland's tolls are not that expensive.
"I've driven through France... they have a lot of tolls - and if you do long journeys in France, it does cost a lot.
"There you're paying for the use of really good motorways: they're quite quiet, they're very smooth, they're well maintained.
"So it's probably not comparable - but it is more expensive for sure for driving the same distance".
Employee Marc Mullally collects toll payments on the M50 in August 2008. Picture by: Mark Stedman/RollingNews.ieHe says while tolls went up earlier this year, there is a logic to it.
"The tolls actually have gone up recently... it's only by 10c per toll but that really adds up.
"While it's not easy to accept that right now.... the logic of it probably doesn't help.
"TII - which is the Transport Infrastructure Ireland - they're responsible for setting tolls.
"Each toll actually in a different area has its own by-laws and has its own calculation, but it's a black and white calculation - it's not just somebody putting a finger in the air and guessing.
"The calculation they do comes up [with] a maximum toll price, and then TII decide on where to set the price below that."
'No provision' on profitability
But Shane says dropping back the prices, due to letting staff go, isn't really a consideration.
"My personal feeling, without seeing the numbers, is the salaries saved are a drop in the ocean and that probably wouldn't translate into even a cent off a toll.
"But aside from that, there's no provision in the way these tolls are set up to look at profitability of each one and say 'That one's making more profit now, we can reduce the price'".
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín has previously called for all tolls on the M50 to be scrapped.
He said the Government bought out the toll system more than 20 years ago – meaning it could end the tolls without needing to pay anyone off.
“At this stage, the people of Ireland have paid for all of the construction costs in relation to this,” he said.
“At this stage, the collection of tolls there is not to cover the cost of the road. The collection of tolls is basically just for profit now", he said.
“We own this road. We’ve paid for it a number of times at this stage and the cost of it is punitive on people.
“People deserve a break. They deserve some level of the easing of the cost of living. People are at a stage at the moment where they can only afford to drive to work or drive to get groceries at the moment. They’re not driving to see relations anymore or family."
