Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2026
177. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Transport the reforms he intends to enact regarding the structure, responsibility and staffing of the Road Safety Authority; the timeline for when these reforms will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53668/26]
View answerIn 2024, my Department commissioned Indecon Economic Consultants to conduct an independent, external review of the Road Safety Authority (RSA). This review was presented to Government and the report published in November 2024.
In total, the report made 34 recommendations. At the core of the recommendations was that the operational services run by the RSA should be separated from its research, media campaigns, partnerships and education programmes to improve road safety. A related recommendation was that the RSA’s public interest work should receive Exchequer subvention.
Since the publication of the review, RSA reform activities have been taken forward on a number of fronts. For the first time since 2012, the fees for certain RSA services increased on 1 January 2025 to raise additional revenue and improve the RSA’s financial position; €18m has been specifically ringfenced for annual investment in public interest work for 2025 and 2026; the Road Safety Communications Steering Group was established in December 2024; the Department of Transport took over central responsibility for the coordination of the Road Safety Strategy commencing with the publication of the Phase 2 Action Plan; and, a new Chair and three new ordinary members were appointed to the RSA board during 2025 with a stronger focus on the RSA’s operational mandate. A further four new ordinary members were appointed to the Board in May and another in July.
I decided not to pursue the recommendation to separate out the RSA’s operational and public interest functions as I believe that reform can be delivered more efficiently and effectively from within the existing RSA organisational structure. My Department has prepared revised reform proposals in line with this decision and in consultation with the RSA. I have held discussions with the RSA Board on the proposals and these will be presented to Government shortly.
