asked the Minister for the Environment if he will explain the system used in issuing new taxi licences, and the number of new taxi licences issued since the system came into operation.
Written Answers. - New Taxi Licences.
301.
Under the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) (Licensing) Regulations, 1978, applications for public service vehicle licences are made to the Garda Commissioner, who is responsible for the granting of such licences. The regulations provide that specified local authorities are responsible for determining the number of new public hire vehicle licences which the Commissioner may grant in the period upto the 31 August 1979, and in each succeeding period of 12 months. The regulations also prescribe that the commissioner must be satisfied that an applicant for a new licence is a fit and proper person to hold such a licence and that, where the number of valid applications exceeds the number determined by the local authority, the commissioner will determine the successful applicants by lot. I will send the Deputy a copy of the regulations with an explanatory statement which I issued in October 1978. At this stage, I have not sought returns of the numbers of licences issued in each of the specified areas.