Mayo TD slams RSA price hikes

DEPUTY Paul Lawless, Aontú TD for Mayo, has slammed the announcement by the Road Safety Authority of an increase in costs for its services beginning on January 1.

Said Deputy Lawless: “The RSA is a state organisation that, despite protestations only weeks ago by ministers as to their record on supporting people, is hiking its prices in only a few weeks.

“We are in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis where every penny counts for families, and yet the cost of getting and keeping a car on the road is now being increased across the board.”

The cost of a driving licence is to increase from €55 to €65 (18%), a learner permit will increase from €35 to €45 (28%), and a full test under the National Car Test will increase from €55 to €60 (9%).

Continued Deputy Lawless: “This government have long tried to tell the public that public transport would negate their need to use cars for work and leisure, yet many areas across the country have no reliable public transport services. Now, when using the car is the only option for taking children to and from school or commuting to work, there is a further cost burden - that is unacceptable.

“Aontú are calling for these rises to be scrapped before the new year. People simply cannot afford higher costs, especially when they are being driven by the public sector and the government is operating a huge surplus.

“It makes little sense and we are challenging the minister to overrule the RSA immediately.”