Cost of driving licence, test and NCT recommended to rise as part of Road Safety Authority reform

Fees for driving licences, driving tests and NCTs should increase next year and be followed by “modest increases in subsequent years”, a new report has recommended.

Transport Minister Eamon Ryan and Minister of State James Lawless published the independent external review of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) carried out by Indecon Economic Consultants following Cabinet approval on Tuesday.

Cabinet agreed to the report’s core recommendation to separate the RSA’s responsibilities. The RSA is envisaged to be reformed into two independent agencies. One will focus on delivering services and operations, while the other will be responsible for wider road safety initiatives.

Reform will happen on a phased and planned basis and a Departmental Group will be established to consider and progress the implementation of the Review.

READ MORE: Ireland housing targets to increase to average of 50,500 a year under new plans

READ MORE: Stardust campaigner Antoinette Keegan explains why she is contesting election for National Party

The review stated that the RSA’s funding model was “not sustainable without either a significant increase in user fees and/or an increase in Exchequer funding”. They noted that there has been no changes to the cost of driver licences (€35-€55), NCT (€55) or driving tests (€85) in over a decade.

The report also recommended that the costs of road safety promotion should be funded by the Exchequer.

An increase in fees for RSA customer services is “likely to require an increase in fees in 2025 and modest increases in subsequent years” and reviewed each one to two years, it added.

Government spokespeople confirmed that the prospect of increasing fees was not discussed at Cabinet.

Minister Ryan: “Recent years have seen this long-term improvement go into reverse. Every single death is a tragedy for the victim’s 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.”

RSA Chair Lisa O’Donnell said that the “change in the future funding structure for road safety is to be welcomed, with additional Exchequer funding dedicated solely for campaigns, research and education to improve road safety outcomes”.

“The self-funding model was no longer sustainable as was recognised by the review of the RSA, and notably, as was in evidence from the RSA running a deficit for two years,” she added.

Sign up to the Irish Mirror's daily newsletter here and get breaking news and top stories direct to your inbox