With just nine years left of 30-year tolls contract, O’hEiligh calls for urgent review

People get up to all manner of activities on New Year’s Day such as long walks or bike rides, but for the past 21 years Ken O'hEiligh and his colleagues in the Make Drogheda Toll Free Campaign have spent the first morning of the year protesting against the motorway tolls at the entrance to the town.

“The ramp tolls located at Junction 9, M1 on the Donore Road are an unjust and unnecessary penalty on Drogheda residents, unfairly targeting local commuters and businesses” Mr. O'hEiligh told Drogheda Life.

“These tolls place a disproportionate burden on those who rely on this key access point for daily travel, forcing them to pay a secondary charge simply for living and working in the area. This situation is unacceptable and damaging to the local economy.” 

He also pointed out that other tolls in Ireland, such as the M50 and Dublin Port Tunnel, have had VAT removed but not Drogheda.

“Why is Drogheda still paying this extra cost? It’s time to demand equal treatment” he said as he outlined the campaign’s demands.

With just nine years left to run on the ramp tolls contract, Ken says an urgent review of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement is needed.

“Since the contract was signed, significant changes in population, economic conditions, and infrastructure demands have fundamentally altered the local context, warranting a reassessment of the ramp tolling structure” he said.

He is also demanding transparency from TII and the government about post-2034 plans for the ramp tolls on the Donore Road. 

“The ramp tolls are not just an inconvenience—they actively harm Drogheda’s economy and quality of life:

“The tolls force large volumes of traffic to divert through our town’s streets to avoid paying. This diverted traffic is creating gridlock with excessive delays in journey time and higher levels of CO2 and pollutants in our air.

“This toll is, in effect, a tax on local life, and its continued existence undermines Drogheda’s growth and prosperity.

“Drogheda is a vibrant, growing community. But this toll punishes the very residents who are building their lives and businesses here. It creates bottlenecks, adds to commuting stress, and discourages investment in our town’s future.

“The people of Drogheda deserve fairness. Removing these tolls will allow our community to thrive—supporting residents, reducing pollution, and ensuring our town is ready for the opportunities that come with growth.

“Together, we can make 2025 the year Drogheda starts moving forward—without this unfair toll holding us back.