Fears have been raised once more about the tolling of the Jack Lynch Tunnel in the future after Cork City Council officials confirmed the handover of maintenance of the tunnel will take place on 20 February.

Councillors were critical of the decision by the National Roads Authority (NRA) to award a contract for maintenance to a private company and some warned that the move may be a "prelude to tolling".

The management of the tunnel will be outsourced to Egis Road and Tunnel Operation Ireland (ERTO), which also manages Dublin's tolled Port Tunnel. Cork City Council had operated the tunnel since it opened in 1999.

At the Cork City Council meeting Fianna FÃ¡il's Cllr Terry Shannon said: "The NRA have done a deal to privatise maintenance of the Jack Lynch Tunnel and I think it's a disgrace. This is effectively privatising the tunnel and it appears to be a prelude to tolling, further down the road."

He also called on Transport Minister Paschal Donohue to make a clear statement that the tunnel will remain toll-free. He added that the Jack Lynch Tunnel is the only tunnel in Ireland that is not tolled.

A city council official said management of the tunnel was in a transition period at the moment. By 20 February, they should have taken over completely.

Last week the NRA confirmed that it has awarded an operational and maintenance contract of the Jack Lynch Tunnel to ERTO for a minimum of 76 months, or six years, beginning in February. The contract may be extended by the NRA up to a total of 120 months.

Details were revealed in a letter from the NRA to Cork City Council which thanked the council for its service in operating and maintaining the tunnel."The authority would like to thank Cork city and in particular the Cork city employees located at the JLT for their exemplary service over the years. These staff members are exceptional."