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HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE GOVERNMENT - DISGRACEFUL TOLL PRICE HIKES ON THE WAY - Cllr Ellen Troy

More price hikes are on the way for the M50 from next January in a move that has been slammed by one Cllr who has described it “as highway robbery …. literally” .

There will be a 10% increase for cars that do not have a toll tag travelling along the M50, bringing car journeys up to €3.80  per trip with similar hikes for buses, coaches and lighter goods vehicles.  Heavy goods vehicles also face price increases.

Aontú Cllr Ellen Troy, who is standing in Dublin West for the upcoming general election  has rounded on the government saying

“This is such a blatantly unfair and insidious tax-- Given this motorway is a main arterial route, the busiest in Ireland, it is hard to avoid it.160,000 thousand hard pressed commuters are being forced to pay for these punitive tolls, notably those who get up early to go to work and who are already paying through the nose for everything”.

“The government is hiking up these tolls in January when people are feeling the pinch more than ever”.

“The M50 is a state-owned infrastructure, and the commuting public has already paid for their use of it. Well paid for it at this stage. It is absolutely mind bending how the Government is continuing to extract money from the commuting public for the ‘privilege’ of using it”. 

“It will now cost up to €8 a day for cars that don’t have a tag; that is a huge charge when multiplied by several journeys, especially for people who are already grappling with spiraling costs and it’s one they simply can’t avoid as they have to use the M50 to get to and from work”.

“I use it myself to get to and back from work; If I had to leave Castleknock to go to Sandyford where I work without using the M50 it would take me hours. Using it takes me twenty minutes and this is what angers me the most on behalf of the people in my area; the government knows people have to use it, they are sitting ducks for these price increases”. “In my constituency of Dublin West, in Estate Agents use proximity to the M50 is used as a selling point”.

“Tolls and fuel tax are not uncontrolled costs. These are impositions that the Government is directly in charge of.  The M50 took in €190 million last year “. We are living through an horrendous cost of living crisis and while the Government is using weasel words of fake sympathy for people, its actions are directly in contravention of this”.

“During Construction of major road projects, we were told by FF and FG governments that the tolls were only to cover the cost of construction and maintenance. We know that’s not true. Let’s be honest, the tolls are now being used as a stick to stop people driving. The Greens are strategically increasing the price of energy, fuel and tolls during this cost-of-living crisis to reduce the demand for energy and push people off the roads”.

 “But they are doing so without giving people any real alternative. Most people can’t switch fuel sources. Most people can’t leave their car behind. Most people can only suffer the suffocating financial squeeze with the help of maxed out overdrafts, loans or money lenders”

By Aontú Press | 24 October, 2024



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The Irish political system is radically broken



In Ireland the vast majority of elected representatives put a finger in the air to check which way the political wind is blowing. They have one eye on their leaders – seeking brownie points – and another eye keeping their seat safe. If elected reps shut up and do as they’re told, they are promoted; if they stand up for what they believe in, they are demoted. No wonder we have the political class we have. No wonder one point one billion euro is being buried in a hole under the National Children’s Hospital and that Stormont is in stalemate.



Throughout Ireland, many people are now afraid to say what they feel, many are afraid to respectfully engage on a range of different topics. Many feel there is a new censorship and a new political correctness in Ireland, that opposition to the establishment is being deleted.



Respectful opposition is not the enemy. Respectful opposition is a critical element of a functional democracy. Aontú will have the backbone to stand up, without fear, for you.




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