I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 122 together.
As indicated in my reply to Question No. 136 of 11 March 2003, the Government is committed in An Agreed Programme for Government to continue the process of making taxis wheelchair accessible. A number of complex issues concerning implementation of this accessible taxi policy have yet to be decided. These include improvements to the existing wheelchair accessible taxi specification to accommodate the greatest possible range of people, issues surrounding urban/ rural needs and the cost of suitable vehicles. These issues will be addressed by the statutory commission for taxi regulation, when established, as part of its general role in relation to the development of new small public service vehicle standards. In pursuing the development of improved vehicle standards and the commitment regarding wheelchair accessible taxis, the aim will be to accommodate the greatest possible range of people, including those who suffer from mobility and sensory difficulties. In pursuing that agenda, the commission may consider the approach to the deployment of wheelchair accessible taxis and the standards applied to such vehicles in other EU states. The commission will also determine the manner and timeframe for the implementation of the policy of accessible taxi services.
