Vol. 510 No. 6
49 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans, if any, he has to reactivate the taxi forum, previously established under the auspices of the Department of the Taoiseach, in view of the continuing problems arising from the shortage of taxis in the greater Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19754/99]
52 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the cost to his Department, including person hours, of work related to the taxi forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21086/99]
296 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the progress, if any, made by the taxi forum; the provisions, if any, made by the relevant local authorities and his Department to increase the supply of taxis on the streets of Dublin and its suburbs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20338/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 49, 52 and 296 together.
The Dublin Taxi Forum, chaired by the chairman of the Dublin Transportation Office, was established in December 1997 and completed its work in August 1998. My Department's involvement in the forum related to participation by one member at its meetings, preparation of some discussion-information papers and other research work to assist completion of the forum recommendations. The total estimated person hour input from my Department was 51.25 hours, equivalent to a cost of some £2,264.
The forum addressed a comprehensive set of recommendations to various Departments, An Garda Síochána, local authorities and the service providers. At this stage, many important recommendations of the taxi forum have been adopted by the parties involved. As far as my Department is concerned, regulations have been made to amend the points system for taxi licence applications, introduce a standard sign for hackneys and limousines for identification purposes and to facilitate enforcement by An Garda Síochána, remove restrictions on the use of two-way radio and telephonic equipment by hackneys and limousines, introduce a separate licensing regime for limousines, introduce the requirement for hackneys to carry a log of agreed fares when driving into, through or out of a taximeter area, and restore a five year period of validity for small public service vehicle drivers licences.
New taxi licences are being granted by Dublin Corporation on a basis similar to that recommended by the taxi forum.
