CIVIL servants in Dublin have put forward an astonishing proposal to put electronic tolls on every road in Donegal as an experiment which would tax motorists based upon the number of kilometres they drive.
The plan will face a massive backlash from motorists and families in Ireland’s second biggest county as it could cost up to €4,950 a year for people who have to drive long distances to work.
But it’s an incredible internal Department of Transport memo on the plans which will cause consternation today with one civil servant describing Donegal people as ‘permanently angry anyway’ when questioned about the potential backlash.
The memo – leaked to Donegal Daily – says it’s ‘grossly unfair’ that motorists in Dublin and Cork are ‘subsidising the c**p roads of Donegal and Mayo’.
The memo, signed by department traffic policy consultant Austin Martin, said it was time to change how cars are taxed.
“The technology for tolling vehicular traffic is now cheaper and easier to install than ever before,” says Mr Martin.
“I have spent two and a half weeks driving around the roads of Donegal and they are absolutely dreadful but we would never collect enough money from the cars taxed in Donegal to fix them.
“Counties must pay for their own roads and I believe we should just tax every motorist based on the kilometres they travel regardless of where they live or work.
“I believe Donegal should be an experiment for the new technology and we believe we can roll it out there by the end of 2018 with new charges coming in on the first day of April 2019.
“Why should motorists in Dublin and Cork subsidise tarmac for the roads of other counties, subsidising the c**p roads of Donegal and Mayo?
“I am thankful I had a company car during my research in Donegal. I wouldn’t drive my own car up there. It’s shocking.
“There will be a backlash when people realise it will cost them up to €5k to tax their cars (this is a tax on rural folk) but I take the view there are a lot of people in that county who are permanently angry anyway so there’s nothing to lose. We can put these tolls on every single road. It’s easy.
“If successful we should then extend the plan to other counties and I’d personally do Mayo next because, as the Taoiseach said recently, there are a lot of whingers there.
“They all have to realise that if they want good roads, they have to pay for it, and pay for it they shall.”
Donegal Daily motoring correspondent Brian McDaid, who was given the memo by a plain clothed civil servant in a pub in Bundoran last Monday about teatime, warned motoring in Donegal will change forever.
“The technology is incredible and this can be done, that’s my worry,” said Brian.
“It will cost people a fortune just to pop to the shops. Going out for a wee run in the motor will never be the same again.
“It could end the Donegal Rally too. Participants from abroad won’t come if they are going to face the extra costs of driving on our roads.”
McDaid said the civil servant who gave him the document was incensed.
“He thinks the feckers in Dublin are picking on Donegal and he’s not wrong, you know,” said Brian.
A spokesman for the Department of Transport denied the plans had been given the go-ahead yet.
“Nothing has been signed off but yes, we’re looking at other ways of getting more money out of motorists,” said the spokesman.
He promised a “full press statement” later today.
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