Motorists are about to be hit with the highest price rises allowed for road tolls.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland says the decision's been 'driven by the current rate of inflation'.
Different For M50
Under the changes, the cost of using one of Irelands ten toll roads on the national road network will rise by up to 60 cent a journey.
On the M50 in Dublin, it's slightly less than that, rising from €2.10 to €2.30 for those using tags, €2.70 to €2.90 for those captured on video, and €3.20 to €3.50 for unregistered vehicles.
Tolls for the 8 public-private partnership companies running the countries other motorways will also rise - by either 10 or 20 cent depending on the route.
The Dublin Port Tunnel the only tolled road not facing an increase.
The above charges relate to those driving cars, with charges higher again for those driving vans, buses and heavy vehicles.
But transport commentator Conor Faughnan says there is no good reason for it.
He's worried commuters will simply hop off the motorways to skip the toll booths.
"So even on the M50, there's traffic in Lucan and Blanchardstown because it's avoiding the M50."
He says the M3 in Cavan, which has two tolls, is a "brand new empty motorway" because locals use the old road so they don't have to fork out for the tolls.
"Likewise the M8 in Fermoy," he says - which is a bypass.
Conor says every time tolls are increased on a bypass, the effect on local towns gets worse.
The hikes have been approved by Transport Infrastructure Ireland and will come into force from January 1st 2023
