Tánaiste 'not a fan' of tolling the planned Cork to Limerick motorway

Tánaiste Simon Harris has said he is “not a fan” of tolling the planned N/M20 Cork to Limerick motorway.

The proposed 80km road, which will connect the State’s second- and third-largest cities, Cork and Limerick, is expected to cost between €1bn and €3bn.

Plans for the motorway were shown to elected representatives last month, and a briefing document stated: “Recommendation for distance-based, barrier-free tolling where users pay on the basis of distance travelled on the new M20 — including lower toll charges for zero-emission vehicles.”

Speaking to The Echo, the Fine Gael leader acknowledged that there had been disquiet locally at the suggestion that the motorway might be tolled.

“To be fair to everyone, I have to be clear that there hasn’t been a decision made in terms of the best ways to proceed, but I’m very nervous of the idea around tolling,” Mr Harris said.

“Personally, I think we have to do better than that, we have to look at other ways. The cost of commuting is not insignificant to people.

“And yes, everything has to be paid for, people get that, but people pay their taxes, and the country’s in reasonably good economic stead, albeit there is a lot of economic turbulence going on in the world.

“But I just think with tolling, we just have to learn from the lessons in the past in relation to it. I’m not a big fan.”

A Government spokesperson told The Echo no decision on tolling has been made, adding that the issue would be addressed “much further down the line”.

Separately, officials at Transport Infrastructure Ireland said such plans had yet to be determined “based on the business case approval”.