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Tolls could be lifted at the East Link, but council bosses say they should stay

The bridge reverts to Dublin City Council ownership at the end of next year, but the city could lose out on €4 million in annual revenue if the toll is lifted.

A REPORT DETAILING possible options for the future of Dublin’s East Link Bridge recommends the city keep charging motorists for crossings after it reverts back to council ownership.

Built in 1984 under a deal between Dublin Corporation, Dublin Port and private company National Toll Roads — the bridge reverts back to the city on 31 December 2015.

The tolls charged at the bridge generated €4.2 million in profit last year (the council and the port splitting around a third of that amount, and the company that took over NTR’s interest receiving the lion’s share)

In the report, City Engineer Michael Phillips sets out the pros and cons of keeping the toll system in place, and sets out two options for how to proceed.

In the ‘pro’ column, councillors are told that keeping the toll would mean:

  • 100 per cent of the profits from the Toll facility would now accrue to DCC as the other two parties to the current arrangement, would no longer have any involvement.
  • Dublin City Council would seek a contractor to contract to operate the toll and provide the tolling facilities. The 22 existing staff employed on the toll facility would appear to have transfer of employment rights under any new arrangement.

Under the ‘negatives’:

  • Dublin City Council would lose the opportunity of €4.2 million toll revenue, as well as the loss of the €700,000 rates income.
  • The 22 Toll operation staff, many with long service at this facility, would be no longer required at this facility.
  • The removal of the toll booths and demolition of the existing toll plaza would cost Dublin City Council an estimated €850,000.

The City Engineer proposes to bring a report before the council in March recommending that the toll scheme be continued, and that a tendering process be undertaken to bring in a new operator for the bridge.

Contacted for reaction, Fine Gael councillor for the South East Inner City Kieran Binchy said:

“I would like to see us in a position where we can see the East Link go toll-free, but obviously that’s subject to us being able to balance the budget.

“Lifting the toll would of course help divert heavy traffic out of the city — it would also ease the burden on hard-pressed commuters.”

Members of the Council’s Transport and Traffic Committee will discuss the issue at a meeting next week.

Read: Celtic Tiger-era Liffey bridge can’t open

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48 Comments
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    Mute Lou Brennan
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    Nov 3rd 2011, 3:06 PM

    A Greek tragedy.

    24
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    Mute Réada Quinn
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    Nov 3rd 2011, 3:36 PM

    Watch dictatorship win over democracy and weep.

    21
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    Mute Martin Mc Cormack
    Favourite Martin Mc Cormack
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    Nov 3rd 2011, 3:26 PM

    So much for all this “cradle of democracy” and “why don’t we do the same in Ireland” nonsense, reality kicks in hopefully

    20
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    Mute Robert Mayberry
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    Nov 3rd 2011, 3:45 PM

    I for one hope the Greeks get their referendum and the result that will hopefully lead to the collapse of the euro and all the shit that goes with it.

    17
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    Mute Silent P
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    Nov 3rd 2011, 3:55 PM

    The harsh reality for millions of Greeks is that romantic notions about democracy won’t put food on the table next month. They have a stark choice. Accept the bail out.. Death by a thousand cuts… Or reject the bailout… Instant death. Their pompous politicians ought to be ashamed for bring their Nation to it’s knees.

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    Mute Rodger O Waters
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    Nov 3rd 2011, 3:32 PM

    The € will croak and the quicker and less painful the better,Insane concept from the off.

    11
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    Mute fitszpatrick
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    Nov 3rd 2011, 5:02 PM

    Why was it insane?

    11
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    Mute Mark Malone
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    Nov 3rd 2011, 4:03 PM

    We are witnessing the explicit emergence of authoritarian capitalism. No longer can we have any illusion that democracy has any part to play in the plans of those who wish to continue with unending wealth accumulation.
    Meanwhile on the streets of Oakland we see this http://twitpic.com/7aazyi

    The game has yet to be played out. If this kinda of authoritarianism is not resisted as China becomes the greatest superpower idea of genuine democracy will be snuffed out for sure. thats the choice now authoritarian capitalism where societys rule are organised from above by and few for a few. Or democracy from below where we govern ourselves as equals. The idea that there is no left and no right is the greatest stunt the right has pulled, but make no doubt of the iron fist that lies at the heart of the “free markets”

    11
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    Mute Martin Mc Cormack
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    Nov 3rd 2011, 4:24 PM

    Emergence of authoritarian capitalism !!!! it’s been that way since man came out of the caves

    5
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    Mute Conor Murphy
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    Nov 3rd 2011, 6:24 PM

    We are not an automatic democracy. We elect representatives and they think for us for five years. Vote good quality people in every five years then largely STFU. However if we vote in venal twits like about 50% of our politicians are we’ll have to keep demanding a vote every 6 months no matter what. It is not part of (or even good practice in any circumstances) to give everyone a broad vote on every economics bill.

    Now some you can make an argument for but one that writes down vast chunks of their debt is the only way to go.

    6
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    Mute Seb Lotus
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    Nov 3rd 2011, 4:08 PM

    “Instant death” is bit dramatic don’t you think. Headline should read ‘Greek finance minister’s grab for power’.
    Come on Papandreou!

    10
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    Mute Silent P
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    Nov 3rd 2011, 4:25 PM

    A figure of speech only. I don’t envisage bodies all over Athens streets.. This is getting dangerous now. Financial warfare is being unleashed on Europes citizens. Dramatic enough??:)

    9
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    Mute Seb Lotus
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    Nov 3rd 2011, 5:30 PM

    And the Greeks (via referendum) are fighting back.

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    Mute colm o`leary
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    Nov 3rd 2011, 3:15 PM

    A bit of back peddling finally! About time

    8
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    Mute Réada Quinn
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    Nov 3rd 2011, 4:33 PM

    Napoleon in high heels and Hitler in drag. Don’t worry. All is not lost. This is the final act in the farce that is “the markets”.

    8
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    Mute Mark Malone
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    Nov 3rd 2011, 4:06 PM

    This is the future – Ordinary Greeks are taking matters into their own hands:

    “In early October, a peculiar news item barely made its way into the back pages of Greek national press: in the northern city of Veria, a small group of people had started reconnecting the electricity supply of households disconnected from the national grid due to bill non-payment. This kind of solidarity action seemed rather abnormal.

    Then again, it is difficult to define what constitutes normality in the country nowadays – the upper echelon of political power is in an unprecedented turmoil, and Tuesday’s referendum announcement by prime minister George Papandreou, followed by him reportedly preparing to step down, has thrown his political allies and foes into a tailspin. Parliamentary opposition parties are calling for a “national unity” government, snap elections, or a succession of the two; the entire mainstream political spectrum in the country seems to have entered a delirious state of panic. In a stunningly surreal scene, eurozone leaders and global markets are nervously waiting for people in Greece to cast a vote.

    And yet, at this precise moment, Greek people are realising they are left with what they had at the outset – that is, absolutely nothing to hope for from the mainstream political scene.”

    See more here http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/nov/03/greeks-austerity-grassroots?CMP=twt_gu

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    Mute neo1
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    Nov 3rd 2011, 5:23 PM

    What’s brendan Gleason doing there

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    Mute Réada Quinn
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    Nov 3rd 2011, 8:12 PM

    Lol neo.

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