Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 Dec 2001

Vol. 546 No. 5

Written Answers. - Deregulation of Taxis.

Ivor Callely

Question:

189 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties in availing of a taxi at certain peak times in the Dublin taximeter area; if his attention has further been drawn to the interim report that Dublin Corporation commissioned on the liberalisation of taxi services; if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 31 of 6 December 2001, he will outline the actual significant benefits to the public through increased availability of taxis; if he has received submissions or opinions from any authority on the perception of increased availability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32345/01]

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

As I have already indicated, I consider that the new taxi licensing regime is bringing significant benefits to the public through the increased availability of taxis. In the Dublin taximeter area the number of licensed taxis has more than doubled and major increases have also taken place throughout the country. Dublin Corporation, as the largest taxi licensing authority in the country, has 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 that the final report of 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. I have not received submissions on this matter from other licensing authorities.