Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 6 Dec 2001

Vol. 546 No. 1

Written Answers. - Taxi Regulations.

Ivor Callely

Question:

31 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his views on the taxi industry and the service provided in the functional area of the largest taxi licensing authority here; and if he will make a statement on the matter [31097/01]

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

Current regulations provide a revised basis for taxi licensing following a High Court decision which created the legal position that limitation of taxi licences in the interests of existing licence holders could not be sustained. I believe this new taxi licensing regime is already bringing significant benefits to the public through the increased availability of taxis. In the case of the Dublin taximeter area, for example, the number of licensed taxis has more than doubled under the new regime.

Dublin Corporation, as the largest taxi licensing authority in the country, has also engaged consultants to carry out a customer service assessment so as to compare current service levels with those obtaining during the last such assessment in 1998 and to identify potential areas for further service improvement. I anticipate this study will provide more broadly based and up to date information on the level of taxi services in Dublin and on the impact of the liberalisation of taxi services under the new regime.

Question No. 32 answered with Question No. 9.