The Government is to intervene to defer motorway toll increases on eight motorways for six months.
It is understood the increases will be delayed until July 1, at a cost of €12.5 million.
Tolls were set to rise from January 1 to their maximum rate, due to soaring inflation, in a move that provoked anger from politicians as citizens grapple with the surging cost of living this winter.
The Government had said there had not been an increase in toll charges for nine years due to low rates of inflation, but it vowed to examine the looming rises after the issue was raised at Cabinet last week.
A Green Party spokesman said the funding for the delay will come from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and not the Department of Transport.
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Explaining the increases, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) had said legislation links toll costs to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Figures show the CPI rose by 9.2% between October 2021 and the same month this year, up from an increase of 8.2% in the 12 months to September.
The State agency said that the "maximum tolls" hike does not go beyond inflation, but increases will be applied to all motorways TII oversees with the exception of the Dublin Port Tunnel.
Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue said the Government is striking the "appropriate balance" of recognising the cost pressures the public are under.
"I think it's striking the right balance in terms of recognising the prospect, particularly the prospect over the next few months, where people's energy levels are higher and dealing with the issue," he added.
After a backlash from motorists and hauliers over the increases, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said last week that toll operators have a "right" to increase their charges due to inflation.
He ruled out the possibility of covering the costs of a delay, saying the move would be a case of "robbing Peter to pay Paul".
He said if hikes were deferred, operators would have to be compensated with money diverted from other transport spending.
Mr Ryan added that he would not like to see the price increases deferred if it meant money being taken away from other projects such as road maintenance and improving public transport.
TII had outlined the increases across various motorways, depending on the vehicle.
On six motorways, the toll for cars was to increase by 10 cent to €2.10, with a 30-cent rise for buses and articulated lorries - bringing the cost up to €3.80.
Tolls on the M3 were to increase by 10 cent for cars, buses and lorries, to €1.60, €2.40 and €2.40 respectively.
The M4 was set for 20-cent toll increases for cars, bringing the cost to €3.20, and a 40-cent increase for buses and articulated lorries - bringing the price to €4.90.
TII said there is "no justification" for toll increases at the Port Tunnel in 2023.
When the toll increases were announced, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said it came as a surprise to the Government and they were taken aback by the scale of the hikes, while Taoiseach Micheál Martin also raised concerns about the timing of the move.
When asked whether he spoke to the Taoiseach or Tánaiste about the increases before they were announced, Mr Ryan said: "We were expecting them in December or November. I was away all last week, locked in negotiating rooms. I didn't have a chance to talk to them."
Mr Ryan was the EU's lead negotiator on loss and damage at the COP27 climate conference in Egypt.
