Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I understand the Road Safety Authority, RSA, wrote to the Taoiseach last March asking for increased funding and detailing a number of projects that have stalled due to a shortfall. That has been reported in the media. It seems the authority also informed the Taoiseach that the Government would have to plug the gap or allow the authority to increase the cost of the national car test, NCT, by 10%. The burden of delivering the funding should not be placed on the backs of motorists, who have already seen hikes in fuel costs and insurance premiums. The funding being requested is vital to combat the rise of road fatalities and serious collisions and to continue the delivery of important education programmes. I ask the Taoiseach and the Government to step up. They cannot expect motorists to foot the bill. I ask the Taoiseach to outline his plan to ensure the RSA is funded properly.

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