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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

Pictures: Problems with Sam Beckett bridge lead to spectacular recreation of ‘rainbow’ ad

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    Mute John Travers
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    Dec 13th 2015, 3:56 PM

    What was that about?

    144
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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Dec 13th 2015, 4:32 PM

    Creating talk by people to advertise themselves, like now on this site?

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    Mute NO 2 FF/FG/LAB
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    Dec 13th 2015, 4:41 PM

    You are supposed to create positive talk not confused talk

    31
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    Mute Paul Mc Manus
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    Dec 13th 2015, 3:56 PM

    What about the ‘FLUID’ people. Hey!!??? Hey!!??? Don’t they get a say? This country is so sexist lololol ;) ; )

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Dec 13th 2015, 4:38 PM

    You mean the alcoholics as they are full of fluid lol.

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    Mute Len Brennan
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    Dec 13th 2015, 6:37 PM

    I thought gender fluid was a biohazard.

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    Mute Pepper
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    Dec 13th 2015, 3:53 PM

    Easy to spot the gay fella. He’s the one decorating the tree.

    67
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    Mute Pepper
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    Dec 13th 2015, 4:02 PM

    And he has mistletoe in his back pocket.

    63
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    Mute NO 2 FF/FG/LAB
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    Dec 13th 2015, 4:18 PM

    If it was a game show called spot the gay fella I’d agree but it’s supposed to be an advertisement ?

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    Mute Rasputin
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    Dec 13th 2015, 5:23 PM

    Surely it’s the lad sitting on top of the tree.

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    Mute James Joseph Superior Power
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    Dec 14th 2015, 4:33 AM

    Easy to spot the fools.

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    Mute NO 2 FF/FG/LAB
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    Dec 13th 2015, 3:57 PM

    What in the flying **** did I just witness?

    57
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    Mute NO 2 FF/FG/LAB
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    Dec 13th 2015, 4:10 PM

    It’s a normal add plus all the sexual orientation comments but what are they doing there in the first place?

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Dec 13th 2015, 4:33 PM

    Depends what you were looking at lol. Sorry…

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    Mute Jack Bowden
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    Dec 13th 2015, 4:19 PM

    It’s a joke.

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Dec 13th 2015, 4:44 PM

    More like a Christmas tree dildo that man has in his hands?

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    Mute IrishGravyTrain
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    Dec 13th 2015, 4:59 PM

    Marketing stunt that has worked. What is so confusing about that.

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    Mute Mark Ryan
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    Dec 13th 2015, 4:36 PM

    Clearly dyas don’t recognise trans ppl… There should be a protest!! And they should apologise to asexuals… They are ppl too

    32
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    Mute NachoBusiness
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    Dec 13th 2015, 4:30 PM

    People really are not very bright these days. It’s called satire folks.

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    Mute NO 2 FF/FG/LAB
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    Dec 13th 2015, 4:43 PM

    And such satire is confusing & not funny, or maybe I didn’t get it ?

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Dec 13th 2015, 5:18 PM

    It is called angry satire?

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    Mute Alan McDonald
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    Dec 13th 2015, 6:24 PM

    I like it!

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    Mute Mark Fitzmaurice
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    Dec 13th 2015, 4:12 PM

    Genius

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    Mute NO 2 FF/FG/LAB
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    Dec 13th 2015, 4:19 PM

    Care to enlighten us?

    18
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    Mute Stibby
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    Dec 13th 2015, 4:25 PM

    Well it is an advertisement.. and advertising is what they got and alot of it..

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    Mute Gerry O'Brien
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    Dec 13th 2015, 5:02 PM

    Mark Fitzmaurice! does Maurice Fit Mark?

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Dec 13th 2015, 4:30 PM

    … And I’m going to burn in Hell, I mean I was born in Kells. lol…

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    Mute TommyRyder
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    Dec 13th 2015, 6:56 PM

    Hahaha.
    Gay man in the tools section?
    Funniest joke I’ve heard in ages.
    Almost as funny as that time Brokeback Mountain ended up in the western genre.

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    Mute Lloyd Hetherington
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    Dec 14th 2015, 1:56 AM

    You’re easily amused, Tommy.

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    Mute James Joseph Superior Power
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    Dec 14th 2015, 4:28 AM

    You have the brains of a turnip Tommy. I worked on a building sites for years. OMG I must be straight. The horror I better get a job as a hairdedde fast.

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    Mute James Joseph Superior Power
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    Dec 14th 2015, 4:38 AM

    hairdresser

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    Mute TommyRyder
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    Dec 14th 2015, 6:02 PM

    A hairdresser James ?
    Kojak’s.

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    Mute James Joseph Superior Power
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    Dec 14th 2015, 10:14 PM

    Manscape Is probble more to your taste Tommy.
    It’s known in the biz as back, sack, and crack.

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    Mute jenine whyte
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    Dec 13th 2015, 5:34 PM

    Never heard of Robert Dyas but now I’m intrigued. Great advertising

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    Mute Jho Harris
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    Dec 13th 2015, 9:24 PM

    Well I wouldn’t set foot in their store, the staff are all a bit thick regardless of their sexuality.

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    Mute Michael cunnane
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    Dec 13th 2015, 7:24 PM

    My name is michael Caine.And I’m a nosey neighbour!

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    Mute Mike Howard
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    Dec 13th 2015, 8:07 PM

    Hi , my name is Randie, I just came out to my employer – a Catholic publication paper and now I’m out of s job – fancy that now

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    Mute Alan Mac
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    Dec 13th 2015, 6:10 PM

    Wtf

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    Mute Gaz
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    Dec 14th 2015, 1:50 AM

    Weird!!!!

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    Mute TheGateFlorist
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    Dec 14th 2015, 10:43 AM

    Do they sell self tapping screws

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