Former Central Bank governor Maurice O'Connell is to chair an oral hearing next month into plans to charge motorists up to 60 per cent extra to cross the M50 when barrier-free tolling is introduced next year.
The National Roads Authority (NRA) is obliged to hold a public hearing into plans to introduce or change toll charges in cases where objections are received.
As a statutorily appointed inspector, Mr O'Connell will have the power to make recommendations but the decision on prices rests with the authority.
In the case of the tolling scheme for the M50, the National Consumer Agency last week lodged a strongly worded objection to the increases proposed.
The new consumer body was one of six parties to object to the NRA's plans to increase tolling charges for motorists after the West-Link is replaced by barrier-free tolling next August.
The NRA declined to say who the other objectors were.
The National Consumer Agency criticised the proposed charges as excessive and claimed consumers would face additional hidden charges associated with the electronic methods used to register the passage of cars through the tolled section of the M50.
These include administration charges for paying by direct debit or credit card, as well as requirements for specified top-up thresholds and minimum top-up amounts.
It currently costs €1.90 to cross the West-Link, but this is set to rise to €2 in the new year. Cars equipped with an electronic tag will pay €2 after barrier-free tolling is introduced.
Motorists who pre-register their vehicle and provide card details will have to pay €2.50, an increase of 31.6 per cent on the current tariff. Road users who do not pre-register will have to pay €3, an increase of 57.9 per cent.
