Vol. 495 No. 7
1 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the reason it was necessary for a representative of his Department to attend meetings of the taxi forum in view of the fact that the regulation of the taxi industry was passed to local authorities from the Department of the Environment in 1995; and the number of person hours spent by the representative on this task. [17640/98]
2 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach the nature of his Department's involvement in the Dublin Taxi Forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20164/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.
The Dublin Taxi Forum was established last December. Many of the issues it considered cut across departmental boundaries. For this reason a number of Government Departments and agencies, as well as the national taxi organisations, business and consumer interests were represented on the forum. The representative from my Department ensured that I was kept informed of developments. The time spent was approximately one half day per month.
The forum has now completed its work. It presented its recommendations to me on 2 September. A copy of the forum's recommendations has also been laid before the Dáil. I believe the forum's recommendations should now be given urgent and serious consideration by the relevant Departments, agencies and interests.
Is the Taoiseach aware that yesterday the Dublin local authorities decided to issue 850 new taxi licences? Does he agree that part of the problem with taxi availability is that this city has the earliest closing public transport system of any city in Europe? The last DART leaves Dublin before the last pint is pulled.
I am aware that the joint committee of the four local authorities yesterday recommended 820 new licences. This is in line with the taxi forum report, although it would probably shorten the issuing period by 12 months. I am aware of the early closure of public transport; I am also aware that last year the Minister involved arranged for CIE to run more buses from different locations rather than from one location, which had been the case for a number of years. The Minister also raised the issue of extending the DART service and I know those discussions have been ongoing. It is not just a matter of giving a directive because industrial relations matters are involved.
The Taoiseach indicated that the report came to him in September. Has it been published yet? Has he had discussions with the Minister for Public Enterprise about her Department's intention to ensure CIE runs the DART later than its current closing time?
The report was published in early September and was laid before the House. We have had a number of discussions about the possibility of extending the transport system and last year some moves were made. The Deputy will know that for a number of years buses left from only one location in the centre city but that was changed last year. Discussions also took place about the DART but it was too late to make progress on that. I know the discussions are continuing but some of those involved are reluctant to move forward on these issues. Perhaps if the Deputy puts down a question for the Minister he may hear the up-to-date position.
Will the Taoiseach agree the DART is one of the most expensive pieces of capital equipment ever installed in this country and that it is scandalous that for seven hours each night, from 11.20 p.m. until 6.30 a.m., that facility is not used despite the large numbers of people who want to use it to get home safely? In a city that seeks to attract tourists and where tourists have to get accommodation in the suburbs, it is a disgrace that a transport system already in place is not available after 11.20 p.m.
That is one of the recommendations the taxi forum, in its conclusions, asked the Departments to consider. The Minister had already endeavoured to do that, but these matters have to be negotiated. This would mean staff working hours additional to and outside those they currently work. While it is desirable that this would happen, these matters have to be negotiated with staff interests.
Since the Taoiseach has seen fit to involve himself and his office in this Dublin transportation issue, will he outline the problems to the House? This Administration is not the first to have to deal with this problem, which is not easy to resolve, but since all the negotiations have taken place, will the Taoiseach indicate the difficulties that would arise in operating the DART after hours? Is it a matter of additional overtime or cash? Perhaps the Taoiseach might share these inner secrets with the wider public.
We are moving away from the substance of the question.
As you may have heard this morning, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, and from the Taoiseach's reply, his Department is involved because this issue crosses a number of Departments. My question is germane to his replies to supplementary questions.
I do not have any difficulty answering the question, but I remind the Deputy that the Dublin Taxi Forum has now completed its work. Other Ministers have answered questions extensively on different aspects of that work because we asked each Department to move on its position. I am glad we have moved, hopefully by agreement, on the taxi licences issue and that a total of 3,200 licences will be issued over the next number of years.
What is the position with the DART?
In regard to the DART, the main reason for the reluctance on the part of the staff last year was law and order.
When does the report envisage the 820 licences will be issued? Is the Taoiseach aware there is a serious difficulty in getting a taxi service in Dublin city at certain times? It will be practically impossible to get a taxi coming up to Christmas but that is also the case on other occasions. Notwithstanding that the majority of taxi drivers work hard, a number of them do not use the full facility and often suspend their services when it is raining because it is too inconvenient for them. What can be done to ensure taxi licences are used by all who obtain them?
The issuing of licences is a matter for the local authorities. To answer the other questions, the joint committee of the four local authorities recommended that 820 licences be issued over the next three years. The taxi forum recommended that 826 licences be issued by the end of 2002. There is a difference of a year, but that matter is currently being discussed by the local authorities to see if it can be resolved.
As I mentioned earlier, the recommendations of the forum related to late night public transport. The Minister for Public Enterprise has discussed this recommendation with the relevant bodies. Dublin Bus management and the trade unions are currently discussing the arrangements to cater for additional demand over the Christmas period, as they did last year. Iarnród Éireann also has plans to increase capacity at weekends and to provide additional services within normal hours, but the question of the DART has not yet been resolved.
Is the Taoiseach aware that in addition to the availability of taxis, cost is also a problem, particularly for young people and those on low incomes? It prevents them from availing of an opportunity to enjoy a social occasion. Therefore, the availability of public transport late at night is important to this large section of the community. Even if we had an additional 850 taxis, these people could not afford the fares being charged. Will the Taoiseach ensure public transport is available to a large number of people living in urban areas who do not have any other means of commuting from the centre of the city to the suburbs?
People do more shopping in the run-up to Christmas and most of them want to leave their cars at home. Taxis are difficult to find and people frequently have to queue in the rain. Will the Taoiseach and the relevant Ministers try to ensure that the necessary innovative steps are taken to allow people to travel home late at night this Christmas without having to drive their vehicles to social occasions at which they may consume alcohol?
The Government agrees with the sentiments expressed by the Deputies. We are trying to bring the taxi issue to a conclusion but that will not be adequate. It is a matter of trying to reach a figure which is agreeable to the local authorities and the taxi forum. I do not believe that 3,200 taxis will be adequate but it is a big improvement and it represents an increase of 1,000 on the numbers available during the Christmas before last. However, this will take a number of years to take effect. Deputy Gay Mitchell is correct to state that taxis do not stay on the roads at all times. This is particularly evident during and immediately after the Christmas period.
The other issues to which the Deputies referred involve the DART, trains and buses. Substantial progress was made in terms of improving Christmas bus services last year and I hope that will continue this year. It will be all the better if such progress can be achieved in respect of DART services.
The Taoiseach stated that the extension of DART services past 11.20 p.m. would cause problems in terms of law and order. Has he considered the possibility of employing additional security staff on late night DART trains and, if necessary, charging higher fares to cover increased costs? This would ensure that such law and order problems would not deny legitimate travellers the opportunity to travel home safely at night.
I understand that those matters form part of the discussions to which I referred earlier. Members will be aware that there are limited difficulties with DART services — not only those provided late at night — in certain areas. This was one of the obstacles highlighted last year. A resolution must be found to this problem because extended late night DART services would make a big difference for travellers, particularly at weekends.
I understand the difficulties associated with this matter but Christmas is not going to take us by surprise this year no more than it did last year. Is the Taoiseach in a position to assure the public in Dublin that a solution will be found to this problem now so that by the beginning of the Christmas period there will be an extended DART service?
As already stated, I am in a position to provide such an assurance about bus services but I cannot yet do so in respect of DART services because discussions between staff interests, management and the relevant Ministers have not concluded.
Since the Department of the Taoiseach took it upon itself to act on behalf of taxi operators by becoming directly involved in the taxi forum, will it not extend its interest and become directly involved——
In industrial relations?
——in resolving this issue?
As she has proven on several occasions, the Minister for Public Enterprise is more than able to deal with industrial relations matters. She does not need my assistance.
It is called "pass the parcel".
There is no better woman to pass it.
