The separation of the two key responsibilities of the RSA — the delivery of road safety customer services and wider road safety public interest activities — was one of the main recommendations of the review carried out by Indecon Economic Consultants.

The government has agreed to implement the reform “on a phased and planned basis”, the Department of Transport said.

A departmental group will be established to consider and progress implementation of the review, while a new road safety communications steering group will also be established immediately to co-ordinate upcoming campaigns.

A new chair of the RSA will also be appointed by the transport minister following the end of Liz O’Donnell’s term in October.

Transport minister Eamon Ryan said: “There has been a positive transformation in safety on Irish roads in recent decades. Since the establishment of the RSA, the number of annual road deaths declined from 365 in 2006 to a record low of 133 in 2021. The RSA can claim significant credit for its work in this regard.

“However, recent years have seen this long-term improvement go into reverse.

“Every single death is a tragedy for the victims’ families, friends and community, and it is incumbent on everyone working in the sector to look at what we’re doing and change the approach to ensure our roads are as safe as possible. This reform of the RSA and wider road safety structures aims to deliver a more effective whole-of-government response to the deteriorating fatality and serious injury trends on Irish roads.

“After the end of her term as chair of the RSA, I would also like to acknowledge the work of Liz O’Donnell over the last 10 years. Liz guided the Authority through a number of significant challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent rising trend in road deaths, which has confronted all of us working in the sector.

“Liz can be proud, however, that under her stewardship in 2021, Ireland recorded its lowest number of road deaths since records began.”

Minister of state James Lawless added: “Although there are still many issues to work through, the reform that we are announcing today will put a renewed and sharpened focus on road safety and help us to progress toward our long-term goal of Vision Zero, as set out in the Road Safety Strategy.

“By reforming the RSA into an agency with a singular operational focus and establishing a standalone entity to deliver wider public interest activities, I believe we will realise substantial benefits with improved provision of key road safety services.”