Government must urgently reverse price increases granted to RSA
No justification for Minister to hike charges for soon to be abolished RSA
The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) has called on the Government to immediately rescind the shock price increases announced by the Road Safety Authority (RSA).
The IRHA said that the increases where completely unjustifiable and inexplicable given the Government proposals to abolish the RSA and reform its functions. The increased costs would also directly hit the licensed haulage sector at a time when high costs are causing unprecedented challenges for the hauliers.
Under the price increases announced today;
- A retest under the NCT will increase by a staggering 43%
- Learner Permits will increase by 28%
- Driving licence fees will increase by 18%
- A Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Test will increase by 15%.
- A full test under the NCT will rise by 9%
IRHA President Ger Hyland said that the decision to grant unprecedented increases to the RSA at this time was illogical and inexplicable. Minister James Lawless who signed the statutory instrument introducing these price hikes is on record as saying that the RSA needs to be reformed.
Ger Hyland said: “This is some Christmas present for the hard pressed customers of the RSA. By allowing this price hike the Government is sending all the wrong signals about an Authority which the Government has already agreed to abolish because of concerns about its effectiveness. It makes no sense to reward an entity that has abjectly failed to fulfil its mandate across so many of its areas of operations. This price increase was signed into law by Minister James Lawless on 4th December and must have been in preparation for some period. It is shocking that the first that most commercial drivers heard about it is when the RSA announced the increases on their website and in a press statement”
The IRHA President said that if the Government wished to provide additional funding for road safety pending the reform of the RSA, then this should come from Exchequer funding and not through sneaky charges imposed on hard pressed motorists.“This is typical price gouging. The IRHA is calling on the Government to rescind this increase as a matter of urgency and to reach an alternative funding arrangement with the RSA.”