State makes €20m profit from M50

REVENUE FROM Dublin’s M50 toll operation rose to €96.5 million in 2009

REVENUE FROM Dublin’s M50 toll operation rose to €96.5 million in 2009. The figure leaves the State with a profit of almost €20 million after €26 million in costs for the eflow system and €50 million in payments to former owner NTR.

According to the National Roads Authority, the figure of €26 million for costs should decline over coming years as start-up costs are eliminated.Traffic volumes had also increased by about 4 per cent on 2008.

However, what eflow describes as “lost transactions” amounted to €1.3 million in 2009. Missing, dirty or unreadable number plates, out-of-date vehicle ownership details and extreme weather conditions meant some vehicles were not identified for tolling.

However, the toll operator said vehicles from the North could now be pursued with the aid of the authorities there.

Tim O'Brien

Tim O'Brien

Tim O'Brien is an Irish Times journalist