STARTING ON JANUARY 1, 2013, drivers will be hit with a 10c toll increase for their journeys.

The rise in the cost of living has been blamed for the increase in toll charges, a move that will put more pressure on hard-pressed drivers and commuters who already have to deal with high fuel costs, motor tax going up, a levy on motor insurance policies and the probability that vehicle registration tax will be increased from next year.

The announcement comes after a 20c increase in the price of petrol per litre since October last year.

Speaking to TheJournal.ie, Sean O’Neill of the NRA confirmed that there would be a 10c hike for the M50:

The tolls are regulated by inflation so they can’t go beyond that, but unfortunatelly we are in inflationary times at the moment, so from January of next year the M50 toll will increase by 10c. Other tolls around the country are likely to follow but they’re owned privately so I can’t speak for them.

When the consumer price index falls, the prices of the toll are also reduced. The last toll increases were in 2011. The NRA must approve rises.

Mr O’Neill added at that in the case of the M50, all the money will be used to maintain and operate the network.

The price hike on the country’s 11 tolled roads has sparked fears that more and more drivers will end up using already congested alternative routes.

Tolls are unlikely to increase in the Dublin Port Tunnel.

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