Oral Hearings into Draft Toll Schemes

In accordance with statutory provisions of the Roads Act, 1993.  An oral hearing will be held into a Draft Toll Scheme if objections to the Scheme are received and not withdrawn.

On appointment an inspector will examine matters raised by objectors relating to the Scheme and in turn may make recommendations to be considered by the Board of the National Roads Authority prior to the Board determining whether or not to adopt the Draft Toll Scheme.

The Statutory Procedure is as follows:

• A Notice is published informing that a Draft Toll Scheme has been prepared and indicating the place and times where the Draft Toll Scheme and accompanying Explanatory Statement can be inspected, and including a statement of the period within which members of the public can make objections in writing to the National Roads Authority.
• Copies of the Draft Toll Scheme and Explanatory Statement are made available for inspection by the public for a minimum period of one month.
• Objections to the Draft Toll Scheme may be made in writing to the National Roads Authority before a given date.
• A Notice will be served on the relevant County Council(s) advising that a Draft Toll Scheme has been prepared and stating that representations may be made in writing to the National Roads Authority within a specified period.
• If objections to the Draft Toll Scheme are received and not withdrawn, the National Roads Authority will cause an oral hearing to be held into the matters to which the objections relate.  The report and recommendations of the person appointed to hold the hearing will be considered by the Board of the National Roads Authority prior to determining whether or not to adopt the Draft Toll Scheme. 
• The National Roads Authority may adopt the Draft Toll Scheme with or without modifications or may refuse to adopt it.

To date eight oral hearings into Draft Toll Schemes have been held namely -

1. M4 Kinnegad-Enfield-Kilcock - The M4 Kinnegad-Enfield-Kilcock Motorway toll scheme was adopted by the Board of the National Roads Authority on 20 November 2001.
2. M1 Motorway (Gormanston to Monasterboice) - The M1 Motorway (Gormanston to Monasterboice) toll scheme was adopted by the Board of the National Roads Authority on 14 June 2002.
3. N8 Rathcormac to Fermoy Bypass - The N8 Rathcormac to Fermoy Bypass toll scheme was adopted by the Board of the National Roads Authority on 10 March, 2003.
4. N25 Waterford Bypass - The N25 Waterford Bypass toll scheme was adopted by the Board of the National Roads Authority on 8 April, 2003.
5. N7 Limerick Southern Ring Road Phase II - The N7 Limerick Southern Ring Road Phase II toll scheme was adopted by the Board of the National Roads Authority on 10 May 2005.
6. Dublin Port Tunnel - The Dublin Port Tunnel toll scheme was adopted by the Board of the National Roads Authority on 7th March 2006.
7. M7 Portlaoise to Castletown/M8 Portlaoise to Cullahill Motorway -  The M7 Portlaoise to Castletown/M8 Portlaoise to Cullahill Motorway toll scheme was adopted by the Board of the National Roads Authority on 12 December 2006.
8. M3 Clonee to Kells Motorway - The M3 Clonee to Kells Motorway toll scheme was adopted by the Board of the National Roads Authority on 13 March 2007. 

As no objections were received in respect of the Draft Toll Scheme for the N6 Galway to Ballinasloe Dual Carriageway scheme an oral hearing was not held. The N6 Galway to Ballinasloe Dual Carriageway Toll Scheme was adopted byt the Board of the National Road Authority on 11 April 2006.

Forthcoming Oral Hearings

An Oral Hearing will be held to inquire into matters raised in objections to the M50 (between Junctions 6 and 7) - Draft Toll Scheme. The Oral Hearing will commence on Wednesday 12th December, 2007 at 10.00am in the Croke Park Conference Centre, Croke Park, Dublin 3.

Additional information relating to the above schemes can be viewed in the Tolling Documentation Section