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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 6 Nov 2001

Vol. 543 No. 2

Written Answers. - Taxi Regulations.

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

468 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans he has to make all taxis wheelchair accessible. [25914/01]

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

469 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the progress being made in drawing up more suitable standards for wheelchair accessible taxis. [25915/01]

Seán Haughey

Question:

497 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his plans to ensure that all taxis are wheelchair accessible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26204/01]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 468, 469 and 497 together.

I have indicated that it is my intention that the process of making all taxis wheelchair accessible will commence by end 2003. I have also made clear my intention to consult extensively with representatives of consumer groups, of disabled persons and of taxi service providers and others to develop further quality improvements for taxi services for the benefit of both the service providers and the general public alike in the medium term. My Department will finalise a consultation document for this purpose in the near future.

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

470 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will consider a special compensation package to deal with individual hardship cases arising out of deregulation of the taxi industry. [25916/01]

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

471 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the compensation package which has been offered to taxi plate owners to ameliorate the impact of deregulation of the industry. [25917/01]

Trevor Sargent

Question:

539 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans he has to compensate full-time single plate taxi drivers. [26749/01]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 470, 471 and 539 together.

Following the making of regulations in November 2000 providing for the liberalisation of availability of taxi licences, I arranged for the introduction of a scheme of refunds by certain local authorities in relation to licence fees charged at above the default level fixed in the Public Service Vehicle Regulations, 1995.

Additional mitigating measures were included in the Finance Act, 2001, which provides for a new scheme of capital allowances for expenditure incurred on the cost of taxi licences acquired on or before 21 November 2000. The allowances are effectively backdated with the cost being deemed to have been incurred on 21 November 1997 where the licence was purchased prior to that date.

The actual cost of the licence can be written off over five years at the rate of 20% per annum in line with the new write off period for capital allowances for plant and machinery. The write off will be allowed against the trading income only of the licence owner who drives the taxi. However, if additionally, the same vehicle is rented out on a part-time basis, then the cost can be written off against both the trading income and the rental income from the vehicle in question.

The Act also includes provisions targeted at addressing some hardship cases that had been brought to the attention of the Minister for Finance. Specifically it provides that where a licence is inherited from a deceased spouse who carried on a taxi trade, the licence holder may offset the capital expenditure incurred on the original acquisition of the licence against the rental income alone from the licence, even if there is no trading income from the licence. Where inheritance tax or probate tax was paid in respect of a taxi licence, the value used for such tax purposes may be used instead of the actual capital expenditure cost, if that value is higher. The capital allowance scheme also caters specifically for the situation where a widow or widower, who has inherited the licence from his or her spouse, lets the licence to a third party who provides the associated vehicle.

The courts have already clarified on a number of occasions since 1992 that there can be no legal duty on the State to compensate taxi licence holders in relation to any secondary market value of licences. There are no current proposals for mitigation measures beyond those provided for in the Finance Act, 2001, and in the scheme of taxi licence fee refunds by certain local authorities.

Without prejudice to this position, I had requested from SIPTU at a meeting on 25 July 2001, a submission categorising cases of specific hardship which may not be fully covered by the current mitigation measures and I understand that this submission is being prepared by SIPTU. I am also aware of representations from FAIR, Families Advocate Immediate Redress, and I have suggested to FAIR that it may wish to communicate with SIPTU officials in relation to their concerns on this matter or make a separate submission to my Department.
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