Abolish ‘ludicrous’ Donore toll

A local toll which means people in Drogheda must pay to travel on the motorway from the one side of town to the other has been described as ‘ ludicrous’ by a local Deputy.

Sinn Féin Spokesperson for Transport Imelda Munster has raised the Drogheda tolls issue in the Dail with Minister Shane Ross.

Deputy Munster criticised the ongoing tolling of the two slip roads into and out of Droghed aon the Donore road and accused the Minister of failing to take on board the adverse effect the tolls have on the people of Drogheda.

Deputy Munster said: ‘ The Minister doesn’t care about the people of Drogheda. People are being taxed for living, working, shopping and visiting Drogheda town. This affects local businesses, investment and tourism in the town.’

Deputy Munster said that it was ludicrous that people have to pay a toll to get from one side of the town to the other.

‘Why would any investor choose Drogheda over other towns when people are asked to pay a toll on entry and exit? It’s the only tolled town in Ireland. The Minister needs to get real and do something about it.’

Deputy Munster said that the Minister accepted the reasoning given by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) on the matter.

‘ They have commissioned a ‘ bespoke’, or made to order, survey in Drogheda to protect the impact and cost of toll removal,’ she said.

Deputy Munster concluded: ‘ This methodology is not applied on any other motorway. It is incredible, ridiculous and invented to come up with calculations not used anywhere else.

‘It makes it impossible to compare the potential costs of toll removal.’