The Road Safety Authority is to be split into two independent agencies under a plan being progressed by Government.
The reform of the RSA follows the final report of an independent external review into the body’s mandate.
The report, by Indecon consultants, also recommended that fees for RSA customer services – such as testing and licensing – be reviewed given the “current unsustainable funding model” for the agency.
The consultants said this is “likely to require an increase in fees in 2025 and modest increases in subsequent years”.
However, they recommended that fee increases should be conditional on substantially meeting service level targets.
The core recommendation of the report is that there should be a separation between the two key responsibilities of the RSA, which are the delivery of road safety services, such as driver testing and licensing, and wider public interest activities such as media campaigns and education.
Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan secured Government approval to progress this proposal on Tuesday.
The Department of Transport said it would bring about a “radical transformation” in road safety activities are implemented.
Under the plan approved by Government, an implementation plan to reform the RSA into two independent agencies will be progressed.
One agency will be focused on the delivery of services and operations while the other will be responsible for wider road safety initiatives including media campaigns, education and research.
Mr Ryan said: “There has been a positive transformation in safety on Irish roads in recent decades. Since the establishment of the RSA, the number of annual road deaths declined from 365 in 2006 to a record low of 133 in 2021.
“The RSA can claim significant credit for its work in this regard.
“However, recent years have seen this long-term improvement go into reverse. Every single death is a tragedy for the victims’ families, friends and community, and it is incumbent on everyone working in the sector to look at what we’re doing and change the approach to ensure our roads are as safe as possible.
“This reform of the RSA and wider road safety structures aims to deliver a more effective whole-of-Government response to the deteriorating fatality and serious injury trends on Irish roads.”
