Fórsa has written to Minister James Lawless requesting a meeting to discuss the future of the Road Safety Authority (RSA).

Last week the Government approved a recommendation to divide the RSA into two separate agencies, following a report published by external consultants. The report proposed establishing a new agency responsible for delivering road safety services such as driver testing, licensing and the NCT, while another agency would be responsible for road safety campaigning and education.

Fórsa assistant general secretary Ruairí Creaney called on the government to ensure trade unions are involved in the process of establishing the new agencies: “We are a key stakeholder in this transition, and it is vital that the RSA staff have a say in how the new organisations are established.  

“Whatever agencies replace the RSA, we want to guarantee that all jobs are protected, and that all employment is permanent and secure for every worker,” he said. 

The outgoing Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan and Minister of State James Lawless announced the publication of the report of the independent external review of the RSA last week.  

A statement by the Department of Transport (5th November) said the review was commissioned “to ensure the RSA is structured appropriately in the years ahead to fulfil its statutory mandate and help to deliver the government’s Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030.”

The review makes a range of recommendations, principally that there should be a separation between the two key responsibilities of the RSA, the delivery of road safety customer services and wider road safety public interest activities. The outgoing Government approved the recommendation. 

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