DUBLIN, Ireland: Drivers in Ireland overpaid more than 350,000 euros in tolls last year across nine motorways and tunnels, according to figures from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). While change is always available at toll booths, some drivers either chose not to collect it or threw in more money than required.

The highest overpayments occurred on the M1 motorway, which connects Dublin to Belfast, where motorists paid 99,000 euros above what was necessary. The Limerick Tunnel recorded 50,000 euros in excess tolls, followed by 49,000 euros on the N6 route to Galway and 40,000 euros on the M7 and M8 linking Dublin to Limerick and Cork.

At the same time, unpaid tolls amounted to 423,000 euros across the motorway network, surpassing the total amount of overpayments.

TII data also showed that the M50 remained the most lucrative toll road in Ireland, generating 212 million euros in 2024. However, the motorway also had a "bad debt" charge of 6.1 million euros due to unpaid tolls. More than two-thirds of M50 users paid electronically or via toll tags, while 16.3% used video payments. Another 15.6% of drivers were unregistered, requiring them to pay manually for each crossing at the West-Link Bridge.

The M1 motorway was the second-highest revenue-generating toll road, bringing in 50 million euros, with the majority of payments made by card or electronic tags. The Dublin Port Tunnel, which has tolls designed to discourage private vehicle use during peak hours, collected 32 million euros. The Limerick Tunnel contributed 29.3 million euros, while the M4 toll booth in Co Kildare recorded 46.9 million euros in revenue.

Across all nine tolled roads and tunnels, total revenue reached 266 million euros. Combined with the M50's earnings, toll income amounted to 478 million euros. Most tolled routes incur VAT charges, but the M50 and the Dublin Port Tunnel are exempt.

TII declined to specify which roads contributed most to the 423,000 euros in unpaid tolls, citing concerns that disclosing such data could hinder enforcement efforts.

Addressing non-payment, a TII spokesperson emphasized fairness in toll collection. "The primary purpose of a tolling penalty system is to encourage a change of behavior for those who do not pay their toll and maintain a level of fairness for the over 97 percent of road users who do pay their toll."