The Managing Director of a Longford transport company says the new toll increases will drive many trucks and ordinary cars back on to the old road networks.
Orla Barry who founded Barry Express with her brother Gerard over 30 years ago says they had no idea that this increase was being planned.
Speaking on the Let's Talk show this afternoon, the company director says the increases might appear small in one sense, but they will drive traffic off the motorways because many companies and private car owners won't be able to absorb the extra cost.
The Longford transport company pays almost €25,000 in toll charges annually, and Orla Barry says she can see no good reason for this hike.
"At the moment, for this year, it's 24,500 euro. Add nine percent onto that. That may not seem like a lot when you put it like that, but when it comes down to it, that's a lot of money. There's saying this money is going towards roads and improving the roads. I'd love to know what roads they're talking about because I'm on roads in Ireland that are not fit for lorries or cars. So I don't know where the money os going. Even a normal Joe Soap commuting to work from Mullingar or Longford every morning is going to be hit badly and they're all going to start using the old road. All the old roads are going to be in use".
