Madam, - I refer to a report in your edition of December 20th, "Firm defends West-Link toll rise". Lest there be any confusion about who decides to increase tolls and what is the purpose of the Government's share of revenues it may be informative if I set out the facts.
Among other things, the West-Link Toll Agreement, concluded with Dublin County Council in 1987, provides that the tolls can be increased annually in line with inflation.
Your report quotes Jim Barry of National Toll Roads as saying, "The price at West-Link is what the Government and the National Roads Authority determine it to be." On the contrary, the level of tolls that are to be charged rests solely with NTR, subject to the maximum allowable under the agreement. Neither the NRA nor the Government has required any toll increase for 2005 at West-Link.
The report also referred to the Government's share of the West-Link toll revenues. This sharing of toll revenues applies when traffic volumes exceed 27,000 vehicles per day. Without this mechanism the returns earned by NTR would be substantially greater and no benefit would accrue to the Government and, in turn, the public from increased traffic volumes on the M50.
The State's share of toll revenues at West-Link has benefited the Government's finances since 1997 and will be fully re-invested in the planned major upgrade of the M50 which the NRA hopes to commence in 2005. - Yours, etc.,
MICHAEL EGAN, Head of Corporate Affairs, National Roads Authority, Dublin 4.
Madam, - The 20 per cent increase in toll charges has disgusted and shocked motorists who use the West-Link bridge. Perhaps the operators should channel the full amount of the increase to tsunami disaster aid. This would give them some desperately needed PR and, more importantly, direct some desperately needed funds to a very much greater cause. - Yours, etc.,
TONY COLLEY, Kilmatead, Dublin 22.