Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 10 Feb 1998

Vol. 486 No. 6

Written Answers. - Taxi Licences.

Joe Higgins

Question:

260 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason the carriage office has ceased to inspect vehicles for the purposes of issuing taxi plates in the Dublin taximeter area; if his attention has been drawn to the twofold distress that this delay is causing to those applicants who have purchased vehicles in the expectation that they would be able to gain plates within the normal parameters, and furthermore those people who wish to make use of wheelchair accessible taxis, in view of the fact that these taxis comprise of the main body of plates pending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3433/98]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

The issue of a taxi licence or a wheelchair accessible taxi licence is a matter for the relevant local authority, which grants these licences where the applicant presents to the authority, amongst other documentation, a certificate that the commissioner is satisfied that the vehicle is suitable to be licensed as a taxi or as a wheelchair accessible taxi and that the vehicle complies with the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations, 1995 (S. I. 136 of 1995).

I have been informed by the Garda authorities that a difficulty has arisen in relation to the issue of these certificates for wheelchair accessible taxis and that the commissioner has sought the advice of the Attorney General. In the circumstances, the issue of these certificates has been suspended pending receipt of his advice.

I should add that the Attorney General's advice has been sought urgently in view of the difficulties which have arisen as a result of the non-issue of the certificates.