Vol. 533 No. 6
320 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will give details of his decision in 2000 to allow for more taxi plates in the Dublin area; the position regarding his discussions with the taxi drivers unions subsequently; the outcome of these discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9879/01]
The Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations, 2000, provide a revised basis for taxi licensing following a High Court decision in October 2000. The new regulations do not place or authorise any restriction on the numbers of new taxi licences which shall be granted by local licensing authorities. The Government is committed to implementing the new taxi regime set out in the new regulations and in accompanying policy measures which I have also announced.
Discussions regarding the new taxi regime have taken place between my Department and taxi interests both in multilateral sessions involving all main representative groups and in bilateral contacts. My Department officials remain accessible for further meetings, as necessary.
My Department has made clear in these discussions that the Government does not acknowledge a duty of compensation in relation to the loss of the secondary market value of taxi licences nor is it proposed to provide such compensation.
My Department has issued instructions to taxi licensing authorities regarding arrangements for the refund of certain taxi and wheelchair accessible taxi licence fees on the basis of the difference between the default fees specified in the Public Service Vehicles (Amendment) Regulations, 1995 – £3,000 for an ordinary taxi licence, £100 for a wheelchair accessible taxi licence – and any higher fee received by a licensing authority prior to 21 November 2000. This measure is designed particularly to benefit holders of wheelchair accessible taxi licences which account for the great majority of taxi licences issued between 1995 and 2000.
Provisions regarding capital tax allowances have been included in the Finance Act, 2001.
The granting of taxi and wheelchair accessible taxi licences by Dublin Corporation, as licensing authority for the Dublin taximeter area, is continuing under the new regulatory regime.
