Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

301. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the RSA's budget for campaigns and education, by year from 2020 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61392/25]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, RSA has statutory responsibility for the promotion of public awareness campaigns and for the advancement of education specific to the safe use of roads. Given that the RSA does not receive Exchequer funding for this work, which is elaborated upon below, I have referred the Deputy's question to the RSA for direct response with the detailed information sought from 2020 to 2025. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.

Pending this response, the Deputy may be aware that the Road Safety Authority has been largely self-funded in respect of its operations since 2014. The RSA ordinarily receives annual Exchequer funding of approximately €1m to fund historic pension liabilities and its activities as Ireland's Automotive Market Surveillance Authority, which is an EU obligation that the RSA fulfils on behalf of Ireland.

In 2024, the RSA received a once-off supplemental Exchequer estimate of approximately €7.5m to help address funding issues that had arisen due to inflation in recent years. However, with the increases to fees for certain RSA services introduced on 1 January of this year, no such supplementary funding will be required in 2025, nor is envisaged in future.

As part of Budget 2025, the RSA was required to ringfence €18m for investment in road safety public interest activities. This includes awareness, educational, and promotion campaigns. This was part of a wider shift to bring a renewed focus on campaigns that make our roads safer for all road users.