Key PPP Principles

The national roads PPP Programme, launched in June 2000, follows these principles:

• No delay should occur in the scheduled provision of road projects as a consequence of their inclusion in the PPP programme.
• An alternative toll-free route must be available for road users. 
• Toll roads should be distributed across national routes for fairness in user charges and benefits.
• A road project needs to be of sufficient size in order to produce value for money when using the PPP process. Whilst no definitive minimum value has been set, a guide of €64m has been used. 
• While private sector funding is preferred, public subsidies may be considered for high-cost projects to keep tolls affordable.

Tolling and Private Investment

Except for the M50 Upgrade Project (which is based on an availability payment mechanism, and is tolled at West-Link under a separate contractual arrangement), all PPP road projects have been procured as toll roads to recover private sector investment. These projects are built to a high standard, offering improved service to users. Toll charges aim to balance revenue generation with attracting maximum traffic and are determined through procedures in the Roads Act, 1993, including public consultation.

TII's approach involves constructing toll roads as additions to the national road network rather than provided by means of improvement of existing roads.