Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We have embarked on a reform agenda within the RSA and there will be changes to the organisation. I think it is fair to say that the RSA has become much more than it what it was originally envisaged to be, taking on the NCT, driver testing and the whole road safety education piece. The Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I have engaged directly with the RSA in respect of driver testing. The delays in driver testing are just not acceptable. I acknowledge the improvements that have been made in recent weeks. The Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I have insisted on a twice-monthly report on progress that comes to us in regard to this. I am sure all of us have constituents who, because they have not been able to get their driving test, are being curtailed in what they are able to do in their professional and private lives. Being able to drive is a necessity for people in certain parts of the country in particular. We have now seen a reduction in those waiting times in a short space of time, which is good. Over the coming months and years, there will be a significant reform of the RSA in respect of its remit and how the organisation is structured. The road safety strategy is due to go to Government shortly. It may be before the summer recess or it might be in September. NCT testing has improved as well. I had personal experience of that recently. I give the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, credit for the work he has done so far in this regard. We have a new chairperson in Anne Graham. She will do a great job. She is someone I have much regard for. We will continue to work on that. This committee might be useful in the autumn. We will bring a further update. When the new road safety strategy goes to Cabinet, it might be an idea, subject to members, that it could come before the committee.