Licensing fees structure for small public service vehicles generally were revised in the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations, 2000. The assessment in this context of the appropriate revised fee for taxi licences had to take account of the need, in light of relevant court decisions, not to place or authorise any restriction on new taxi licence numbers, to ensure some differential or incentive in relation to the provision of wheelchair accessible taxis, and to ensure bona fide public service intent on the part of taxi licence applicants in the context of the extra privileges available to taxis, including, in particular, access to with flow bus lanes.
Against this background, the reasonably substantial initial licence fee of £5,000 was specified for taxis. I have already indicated that it is intended that the process will commence of making all taxi vehicles wheelchair accessible by end 2003 and to consult extensively with a range of representative groups to develop further quality improvements for taxi services in the medium term. My Department will finalise a consultation document in this regard in the near future. Implementation of this policy is likely to entail a review of the current fees for small public service vehicle licences.
