A local TD says he doesn’t have confidence in the Road Safety Authority.

Clonmel based Deputy Michael Murphy is chair of the Oireachtas Transport Committee.

On Tipp Today earlier the Fine Gael representative said there were many questions in relation to the RSA.

“I think we need a shakeup in the RSA – I can’t sit here today and say to you I have total confidence in the RSA.

“We had a situation back in May where we had a 26/27-week average waiting time for driving tests. Thankfully with an action plan that was brought back down to 10 weeks but that’s creeping up again now.

So I have a concern in terms of their roles in terms of licensing – that whole regulatory role and separately their whole road safety remit.”

Deputy Murphy says he will be holding the Road Safety Authority to account when they appear before the Oireachtas Transport Committee next month.

“I’m conscious of saying that but the data is there in terms of the Road Haulage Association – they’ve huge frustration with the RSA – you know we talk about waiting times for driving tests for a normal car. It’s even worse for a HGV test, I think its up to 6 months, it’s shocking.

“No, I cannot sit here and I’m conscious of how strong that is that as chair of the Transport Committee I don’t have confidence in the RSA. And we will have the RSA before the Transport Committee in early February and I plan to hold them to account.”