Defending the rejection of suggested reforms of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) this morning, the Minister for Transport, Darragh OBrien, used the now-abandoned 30km/h default speed limit approach as an example of progress on road safety.At the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport, he also cited the improved driver test time as an example of progress within the RSA, but consultants paid for by the Department of Transport highlighted that testing was among a range of complex nationwide customer services that were a distraction from the authoritys claimed main function of reducing deaths and injuries. Minister OBrien expressed concerns that reforms would be a distraction and that a possible new agency would not report directly to the Department. He said: I believe the RSA should be reporting directly to the Department and to the Ministers. I think if we set up a separate agency that doesnt report directly, we wont get the direction thats required.But, as reported by this website in 2024, the Indecon Economic Consultants report, which recommended RSA reform, actually suggested bringing the Road Safety Authoritys road safety policy and education functions into the Department of Transport, and leaving operational customer-focused services such as the vehicle testing in the NCT and issuing driving licences to be retained in an operational-focused body. This would cut out the RSAs board and CEO, and would effectively follow what Minister OBrien now claims he wants, in that a section of the Department would report directly to the Department and Minister. But former transport minister Eamon Ryan went against this advice.The abandonment of a mix of the reform promised by the last government and recommended by Indecon Economic Consultants was raised by both Sinn Fin TD Louis OHara and Green Party leader Roderic OGorman.Deputy OGorman said that while the NCT and other operational functions of the RSA are important, the independent report into the function of the authority had shown a conflict in focus between such operational functions and road safety policy delivery. He said that the report said, Its important to recognise that a small non-commercial agency of the stage, such as the RSA, has a wide range of responsibilities and limited powers and constrained resources cannot on its own deliver the government road safety strategy.OGorman asked: When it has two entirely different jobs, which one isnt prioritising? Is it prioritising road safety? Or is it prioritising that operational side?Replying, Minister OBrien, said that theres a lot of synergies between both of those.While the Indecon report noted the road safety aspects of the NCT and driver training, it pointed out that these functions, which it termed operational customer-focused services, dominate the focus of the RSA, distracting from policy and delivery of the road safety strategy.But Minister OBrien said: I see them as complementary, if Im very honest with you, I think the Road Safety Authority. Need to do a better job and were supporting them to do a better job and they need to perform in a more efficient manner and in a better way.When OGorman asked if it just a question of personnel because youve spoken about kind of a lot of changes at the board is that where the problems were was it in personality? Minister OBrien mentioned improvements in private driver testing times as an example, highlighting how waiting times went from an average of 27.3 weeks in April 2025 to 10.6 weeks in December. So it shows you whats actually possible when theres proper organisation of work and a proper focus on priorities, said Minister OBrien. OGorman said that having driving testing as a main example of the agencys priorities, is part of the point that the Indecon report made.He said: Again, I think the facts that were talking about driver testing times, which is really important in an organisation that is trying to save lives on our roads, when 190 people died last year. I have a real concern about that focus issue. That it is doing two very important for two very different things and that has been identified as a problem.Minister OBrien said: Look, theres about 400 people in the RSA. Lets be straight about this as well. I think in relation to the focus on road safety, we have ring fenced 18 million in this budget, specifically in relation to public interest work in terms of education, awareness and campaigns, both last year, and for this year, that can happen as well and should happen as well.The Indecon report, however, outlined how A small percentage of staff resources is allocated to road safety promotion and road safety education. We note that in areas such as promotion or education, a lot of the activities are also outsourced. These important public interest activities are part of a small Partnership and External Affairs Directorate.Indecon also noted deficiencies in the RSAs research capacity and showed that, of the 445 staff the RSA had at the end of 2024, only 2.5% were in its research department. In the committee today, the Minister continued: I think breaking up the agency right now would have taken a focus off the important work that is being done.Deputy OHara said: Its clear that the RSA isnt fit for purpose in its current forum and as you know, last year you backtracked on the recommended to reforms that were in the Intercon report, and can I ask, why have you ignored the specific recommendations from that report?The Minister for Transport said: Ive answered some of that, but to answer it again, I said I want to focus on the tasks that they have at hand and what their responsibilities are. I think we could see the operational structure within the RSA, I believe, should be secondary to the work that they do.Theyre a well-resourced organisation with over 400 people working in the organisation, and they need to be organised in a better way and need to be to point themselves towards the priority areas of work. And thats what myself and Minister [for State Sen] Canney are supporting them and doing.When OHara asked the Minister what exactly is the work being done in that regard, the Minister used the abandoned 30km/h default limit as an example which was mainly a Department of Transport action in the road safety strategy to be implemented by local authorities who would be able to justify roads with high speeds.But when the default limit approach was avanded campainers and opposition have said it will make the 30km/h rollout harder, and take up more resources at the local authority level wheich could have been used for other safety issues. Minister OBrien said: If were looking at the focus particularly, if you look at the area of road safety, weve already brought in a reduction in the speed limits across the country, default speed limits to 30 kilometres per hour. Were looking further now at further penalties with regard to infringements and driver behaviour.So my focus is on their core areas of work, and thats what it should be. And I think the focus that some have and Im not dismissing it about a structural reform, splitting up of the agency, I think takes away from the core responsibilities that they have, he said.OBrien continued: I have to make a decision with Minister Canney, do we spend the next year or two years trying to structurally form the agency and try to split it up? Or, do we actually support them in, in doing their work and improving the work thats being done?