Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 1 Feb 2000

Vol. 513 No. 3

Written Answers. - Taxi Regulations.

Enda Kenny

Question:

225 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the conditions under which licenses are issued for taxis to carry disabled persons; if it is permissible for these taxis to attend at Heuston station to pick up special fares; if his attention has been drawn to any incidents where these taxis were pre-booked by passengers using wheelchairs to be told on arrival at Heuston that they were not allowed to attend at the station in view of the fact that an existing taxi rank is situated there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2406/00]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy)

Taxi or wheelchair accessible taxi licences are granted in respect of a particular vehicle and are only granted to the application where the appropriate fee has been paid, the vehicle has been certified by the Garda as being suitable and the applicant satisfies the licensing authority – Dublin Corporation in the case of the Dublin taximeter area – that the use of the vehicle as a taxi is covered by insurance. In the case of wheelchair accessible taxis, the vehicles must comply with specification requirements which are set out in the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations, 1998.

Appointed stands – taxi ranks – are provided for the purpose of facilitating taxi standing for immediate hire on a public road in a taximeter area. A taxi which has already been hired may not stand at a rank. A taxi which has been pre-booked may await the collection of the passenger subject to compliance with any parking prohibition or restriction in place on the public road at that location. Arrangements for access to property off the public road at Heuston Station are matters for the management of the station.