Vol. 515 No. 3
29 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the developments, if any, regarding his discussions with representatives of the taxi industry; the progress, if any, made on the request of the taxi industry for a taxi forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6058/00]
38 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of applications received by the 18 February 2000 deadline for new taxi plates; the number of existing taxi licence holders who have applied for an additional licence; the number of cosies who have applied for additional licences; the number of each category who have been granted additional licences; when the additional taxis will come on stream; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5984/00]
51 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will return power to the local authorities to allow for the issue of the 350 taxi licences which they had planned to issue in January 2000 in view of the injunction which is preventing the issuing of taxi licences by his Department. [5360/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 29, 38 and 51 together.
The arrangements announced by the Government to ensure a large increase in Dublin taxi numbers provide that one additional taxi or wheelchair accessible taxi licence will be offered to each individual who held a taxi licence in the Dublin taximeter area at the end of 1999, as well as 500 further licences to be granted to applicants under the current points assessment system. Regulations made on 13 January 2000 established an implementation process for these measures and applications were subsequently invited by Dublin Corporation from every person who held, or was entitled to hold, a taxi licence in Dublin as at 31 December 1999.
The regulations provide for the making of an offer to grant a wheelchair accessible taxi licence to each licence holder who expresses a preference for the grant of such a licence and who complies with the requirements of the regulations. All remaining licences, including those to be offered to applicants on the current points assessment system, are to be allocated in accordance with a scheme to be finalised. I am advised by the corporation that over 2,600 applications for an additional taxi licence from existing licence holders have now been received. Applications have not yet been sought for licences to be allocated on the current points assessment system.
I have held a series of meetings with the taxi representative groups about the new arrangements, as well as responding in writing to a number of stated concerns presented to me. Within the process, some taxi representatives have proposed the establishment of a board to oversee taxi affairs generally and have also indicated their concerns about the need to improve taxi fare structures and certain other aspects of taxi regulation in the Dublin taximeter area. I have agreed to take up these issues with the competent Dublin local authorities without prejudice to progressing the increase in taxi licences as determined by the Government.
On 7 February the High Court granted leave to a number of individuals to seek a judicial review in relation to a number of provisions contained in the Public Service Vehicles Regulations. The court has also granted an interim injunction preventing Dublin Corporation and Dundalk Urban District Council from granting certain taxi licences. The resolution of these matters will be pursued urgently in the courts and intervention on my part would not be appropriate at this point. I understand the matter will go before the High Court on 21 March 2000.
When the Minister of State announced the new licences last November he assured the country that there would be 5,800 taxis on the streets of Dublin by May 2000. What is his estimate now of the number of taxis on Dublin streets by that time and when will the target of 5,800 taxis be reached?
I do not recall giving any such assurance.
The Minister of State's PR people did.
We decided that the taxi licences would be issued as soon as possible. I have proceeded with as much haste as I believe is reasonable in the circumstances, considering that it was important to meet the various interested groups and the representative bodies who gain their livelihood from this industry. The actions I have taken have not caused any undue delay but, in fairness, allowance must be made for the opportunity to consider and reply to the advertisements we placed. The Deputy is aware that, given the intervention through the courts, we cannot proceed with the issue of licences until the court injunction is lifted.
In view of what the Minister of State has said, the whole operation of expanding the number of licences is on ice. When this difficulty is resolved, what action does he intend to take to issue the licences and to ensure they are used to provide a service to the people concerned? Is he aware of a recent offer to make wheelchair accessible taxis available for a fraction of the cost of the vehicles licensed up to now and will he take steps to ensure that those vehicles are used, rather than the more expensive ones, which have turned out to be an excuse for not doing anything?
I have no information with regard to vehicles being made available at a fraction of the cost.
The Minister of State should ask around.
If the Deputy has the details he should send them to me. I met the taxi groups, two of them together – there are now approximately four different groups – and none of them made any reference to the availability of taxis.
If the Minister of State read the newspapers he would find out.
It would be a matter for the individual licence holder and the purchaser of the vehicle, provided it met the various carriage office requirements and was satisfactory. I do not know anything about the various prices, other than that they are more expensive than the normal car that can be put on the road. For that reason the licence for wheelchair taxis was set at a very low figure of £250.
The Minister of State is buying the flannel all the way along.
Do I understand from part of the Minister of State's earlier reply that he does not intend to do anything further on the taxi issue until the matters which are now before the courts have been fully resolved, or does he have plans to take an initiative which might cause it to be resolved without necessarily burdening the courts?
I do not believe I said I would not take any further action. I said I would not be able to proceed with the issue of licences. However, I am looking at other areas of the taxi service in Dublin with a view to implementing some of the suggestions made to me by the taxi interest groups and which I believe would help to improve the taxi service to the commuting public. That would be in the interests of all, including the users and operators of the service. It would be much more remunerative for the operators if the service was more efficiently operated and if aspects, such as global positioning systems, were available and in place. I am favourably disposed to looking at that and I have offered to fund a viability study. Since then, Dublin Corporation has undertaken to carry out a study.
It would be wrong to say that the entire process has stopped, but I cannot comment on the court case. That will proceed and we must accept the decision.
Has the Minister given any consideration to designating a certain number of the new taxi licence plates for those men and women who have to pay exploitative rents for cosies to earn a weekly wage? These people will be unable to receive any of the additional licence plates. It is another example of the monopoly power within the taxi industry.
Will the Minister of State also give further consideration to a scheme proposed by those involved in the local employment service, where a certain number of taxi plates would be designated to people emerging from long-term unemployment who want to get into the taxi industry?
I am surprised the Deputy appears to be unaware I have already announced that 500 taxi licences will be made available under the current points system. The people who qualify are the cosies. When the scheme is implemented it will be intention that the cosies will be invited to apply for them.
What about the local employment schemes? The one in Galway operates very successfully. I will return to this matter.
There must be an election in Galway.
Elections have never caused me any bother. The next general election is the only one of importance to Deputies on the opposite side of the House. They might all be in trouble.
Is the Minister of State leaving it to the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Fahey?
We have been told that the Minister of State misled his party.
The Deputy should not believe everything he reads in the newspapers.
