Fans used to clean the air in Dublin Port Tunnel are to be replaced at a cost of €850,000, after just one year.

The contractor is to pay to replace the turbo-jet fans but has denied any responsibility for a host of other faults - including the €30 million Scada electronics management system that is failing to control the fans.

The National Roads Authority (NRA) yesterday insisted that the tunnel was safe to use.

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Fred Barry, Chief Executive of the NRA told the Oireachtas Transport Committee that while safety at the tunnel had never been compromised, there were problems with the computer systems.

"This tunnel is one of the first in Europe to be designed and built to the latest EU safety directive. It is ahead of most tunnels in Europe," Mr Barry said.

The tunnel has been closed 20 times for safety reasons since June and on five occasions closure was due to malfunctions in the fans' computer.

He said the NRA was involved in a dispute resolution process with the tunnel consortium Nishimatsu Mowlem-Irishenco but was "following procedures to protect taxpayers' interests".

The NRA also said it will review the €6 charged to private motorists to use the tunnel in August.

(VB/JM)