Vol. 569 No. 3
397 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the complaints procedures for members of the public who experience problems with standards in the taxi industry; the body responsible for dealing with such complaints; the number of complaints received in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16859/03]
I have been informed by the Garda authorities that any member of the public who experiences problems with standards in the taxi industry may make their complaint to any member of the Garda Síochána or in any Garda station. In addition, in Dublin, a member of the public may make a complaint directly to the Carriage Office, Dublin Castle.
In Dublin, all complaints not made directly to the carriage office are forwarded to it where they are fully investigated. Complaints which may reveal serious crimes are forwarded to the Garda station responsible for the area in which the incident is alleged to have occurred for investigation. Outside Dublin, the complaint is investigated by the local Garda station. In both Dublin and outside Dublin, the complainant is generally invited to make a statement in relation to the complaint.
I am further informed that any complaint in relation to the terms of a small public service vehicle licence or any complaint relating to any infringements of the small public service vehicle licence are dealt with by the Garda Síochána as the Garda Commissioner has overall responsibility for the issuing of such licences. The local authority which issues the actual taxi plate or licence also has responsibility in relation to complaints. The number of complaints received in the past five years are set out in the following table. These figures are in respect of the Dublin metropolitan region only as the information could not be collated on a national basis in the timeframe allowed for this question.
|
Year |
Number of Complaints |
|
1999 |
300 |
|
2000 |
220 |
|
2001 |
509 |
|
2002 |
540 |
|
2003 (to date) |
217 (to date) |
