Cash-strapped motorists are being forced to pay over the odds on many toll booths because operators refuse to comply with a price drop that is linked to the consumer price index.
"There is a commercial disagreement between the National Roads Authority and a number of toll operators in relation to the applicable 2011 Toll Rates," said Sean O'Neill of the NRA.
It is the NRA's position that as of January 2011, five tolling operations (M1-Dundalk, M4-Kilcock/Kinnegad, M6 Galway/Ballinasloe, M8-Fermoy and N25-Waterford City Bypass) were required to lower their tolls to comply with the tolling bye-laws that regulate the level of the tolls with reference to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
To date only one toll operator, M6 Galway/Ballinasloe, has lowered its tolls (e.g. €1.90 to €1.80 for a car).
Those toll operators that have not reduced the toll rates have put forward a different interpretation of the toll by-laws to that of the NRA.
Fine Gael Transport Spokesman Simon Coveney TD has warned, "This will only reinforce the negative view of toll companies among motorists. There is a clear obligation on toll companies under NRA by-laws to cut toll rates after twelve straight months of deflation.
"The toll companies should now be punished for over-charging. The NRA should seek to impose even greater price cuts than those required under the law, in order to provide some compensation to ripped-off motorists."