Laois commuters dodge toll hikes for now as Government steps in

Drivers in Laois who use the motorways won't have to face the rise in toll charges until next year after the Government stepped.

The Government is to intervene to defer increases in toll charges on eight motorways for six months. It is understood the increases will be delayed until July 1, at a cost of €12.5 million.

Tolls on the M7 toll booth near Portlaoise and other roads across the country were set to rise from January 1 to their maximum rate due to inflation.

The Government had said there had not been an increase in toll charges for nine years due to low rates of inflation, but it decided to examine the looming rises after the issue was raised at Cabinet last week.

Explaining the increases, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) said legislation links toll costs to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Figures show the CPI rose by 9.2% between October 2021 and October this year, up from an annual increase of 8.2% in the 12 months to September.

The state agency outlined the increases across various motorways, depending on the vehicle.

The M7 and M8 through Laois are operated as Public Private Partnership (PPP) Concessions. the toll for cars was to increase by 10 cent to €2.10 with a 30-cent rise for buses and articulated lorries, bringing the cost up to €3.80. Other tolls routes on the same rates are the M1, N6, N25WF, N18-LT

Tolls on the M3 were to increase by 10 cent for cars, buses and lorries, to €1.60, €2.40 and €2.40 respectively.

The M4 was set for 20 cent toll increases for cars, bringing the cost to €3.20, and a 40 cent increase for buses and articulated lorries – bringing the price to €4.90.