Vol. 499 No. 2
37 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has completed his consideration of the report of the Dublin Taxi Forum; the action, if any, he will take arising from the report; if his Department plans to deregulate taxis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2053/99]
66 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the measures, if any, he has put in place to progress the report on the Dublin Taxi Forum; if his Department retains involvement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1914/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 66 together.
The Dublin Taxi Forum addressed a comprehensive set of recommendations in September 1998 to a range of agencies: Government Departments, the Garda, local authorities and taxi service providers.
These recommendations have been the subject of detailed consideration by all of the agencies concerned, including my Department in its role of providing the regulatory framework for taxi services. Proposals finalised in November 1998 by the joint taxi/hackney committee of the four Dublin local authorities reflect in considerable measure the recommendations of the forum in relation to new taxi licences and provide for the commissioning of 820 additional wheelchair accessible taxis over the next three years.
In so far as recommendations directly addressed to it are concerned, my Department held discussions on implementation with representatives of taxi interests in December 1998 and clarifications on some points are awaited from some of these groups. In addition, my Department has recently met with Dublin Corporation in order to finalise action on certain recommendations of the Dublin Taxi Forum. I intend that my Department will continue to work actively in relation both to recommendations addressed directly to it and to the wider implementation of the forum package.
