asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of serious unrest amongst wholetime public hire vehicle owners in Limerick city caused by the recent issuing of 26 extra public hire vehicle licences in the city; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Public Hire Vehicles.
18.
I have seen Press reports concerning protests by owners and drivers of public hire vehicles in Limerick city arising out of the issue of licences to persons not previously licensed. Last year, I decided that applications for such licences should be made on an annual basis. The licences recently granted number 26 compared with 36 granted in the previous year. I have no power to put a limit on the number of applications or on the number of licences which may be granted.
Incidentally, since the reply was prepared I have arranged to meet a deputation led by Deputy Coughlan this afternoon.
In view of the recession in the tourist industry and the fact that the taxi service is an integral part of the tourist industry would the Minister continue freezing the issuing of further licences for a fixed period of, say, two or three years?
I am sorry but under the present law I have no power to put a limit on the number of applications or on the number of licences which may be granted. All I could do was limit the licences, that they should be made on an annual basis and in that way I expect the number will be cut down as has been proven because there are only 26 as against 36 previously.
Would the Minister consider changing the law to cover this and also cover the great social injustice of part-time hackney drivers and taxi owners operating in Limerick city and elsewhere who are preventing full-time taxi drivers from earning a living?
The Deputy is opening up a very big question which I would rather not discuss now.
Would the Minister consider changing the law?
I would not, at present.
Could the Minister give any indication when he would consider this?
The deputation this afternoon may persuade me.
Question No. 19.
(Interruptions.)
Did I understand the Minister to say that the number of licences had decreased from 36 to 26? This was obviously because the 36 felt it was not a paying proposition any longer.
The Deputy is going on to make a statement. He is using a supplementary to make a speech.
Did I understand the Minister to say that because of the drop of ten licences he accepts this as being sufficient control in such a situation? If that is so, does he mean that it is his intention to let as many as possible of these people fail in making a success of the taxi business? Is that what the Minister said?
I did not say what Deputy Fitzgerald suggested. I said I had confined it to one annual review, which was for the first fortnight in June. This resulted in a number who might have come in during the year not coming in but those who were determined to come in made preparation for that particular fortnight. There is the question of supply and demand and because a number of taxi men go out of business through ill-health, death and various other reasons the number is not growing. We have received complaints from the tourist organisations that there are not enough taxis. I am trying to keep a happy medium and I prefer to leave it at the once-yearly renewal instead of doing what has been suggested.
(Interruptions.)
The Chair is anxious to get on to the next question. I allowed Deputy Herbert quite some latitude in this matter initially.
There has been a complaint from the tourist organisations of the lack of tourists, not of hackneys.
This is a separate question.
I cannot do anything about the number of tourists.