The cost of a driving licence, car test and commercial vehicle roadworthiness test are among fee hikes to be introduced by the Road Safety Authority (RSA).
The increases due in January are the first since 2012, said the authority, which is planning to spend €18 million next year on public interest safety activities.
A €10 fee increase will bring the cost of a driving licence to €65 and a learner permit to €45, while a €5 increase will bring the cost of a full NCT test to €60.
The price of an NCT retest will rise by €12, to €40, while a commercial vehicle roadworthiness test will increase by 15 per cent of the pre-VAT cost.
The price-hikes come in the wake of a report to Government earlier this year that recommended such a move as well as an increase in penalties for dangerous road users and greater direct exchequer funding for road safety measures.
The report, by consultancy firm Indecon, outlined growing financial pressure on the RSA, saying a deficit of €20 million in 2024 was likely to rise to almost €45 million by 2033.
It argued that for customer services to be sustainable, the RSA “is likely to require an increase in fees in 2025 and modest increases in subsequent years”.
The report says increases should be conditional on substantially meeting service level targets, where performance has slipped in recent years.
The Government recently approved a 50 per cent increase in the number of people employed in giving driving tests, and recruitment is currently under way.
Delays in accessing a driving test vary around the State, with the RSA website showing the earliest date available in different centres ranging from March to June of next year.
The Irish Road Haulage Association called on the government to rescind the price increases.
The organisation said they were “completely unjustifiable and inexplicable” given the government proposals to abolish the RSA and give its functions over to two new bodies. It said that the increased costs would hit the licensed haulage sector at a time when high costs are causing unprecedented challenges for hauliers.
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