Taxpayers could be left on the hook for €3m for underused M3 toll during pandemic - O'Rourke

Sinn Féin TD for Meath East Darren O’Rourke has said it is outrageous that the taxpayer is left to foot a potetnial €3million bill to private toll operators, as a result of the drop in traffic volumes on the M3 motoway during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Deputy O'Rourke said he had received confirmation from Transport Infrastructure Ireland that the taxpayer is to be left on the hook for at least €9 million, for two toll roads despite the far quieter traffic volumes brought on by the ongoing pandemic.

“The bill for the M3 motoway in my own county of Meath, will be in the region of €3 million from January to June of this year, while the operators of the Limerick Tunnel will receive a massive €6 million top-up from the State for the same period.

Deputy O'Rourke said he believed these lucrative PPP contracts are a consequence of poor planning and financial incompetence on the part of consecutive Fianna Fáil era governments, and they have been a financial loser for the State year-on-year.

“It’s outrageous and it will really infuriate people. There are so many more important issues that need investment and prioritisation post-Covid-19, and toll road fees certainly aren’t one of them in my opinion.

“So, while this government is slashing the vital Pandemic Unemployment Payment for people with one hand, they are signing cheques with the other to keep private toll road companies well looked after.

“It is absolutely disgraceful and it should not happen. The Minister for Transport Shane Ross needs to challenge this given the extraordinary, once in a century, circumstances.”

Responding to Deputy O'Rourke a spokesperson for TII said: "Traffic guarantee clauses, also known as “variable operation payments”, arise on two PPP national road contracts, the M3 Clonee-Kells scheme and the N18 Limerick Tunnel. Details of the variable operation payments made under the contracts are published by Transport Infrastructure Ireland

"It will be noted that no variable operation payments arose for the M3 Clonee-Kells scheme in either 2018 or 2019. However, as a consequence of the significant reduction in traffic levels since March 2020, due to travel restrictions necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic, increased variable operation payments will arise in 2020 in respect of both contracts. The extent of such payments will, of course, be dependent upon the duration of the current restrictions on movements and the ongoing impact of the restrictions on traffic volumes on the schemes.

"Currently, it is anticipated that the variable operation payments payable for the period from January to June 2020, which fall due in July 2020, could potentially be in the region of €3m for the M3 and €6m for the Limerick Tunnel (excluding VAT).