Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2004
105 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Transport the reason for the delay in establishing the office of the taxi regulator; if his attention has been drawn to public concern regarding safety in taxis in the absence of any quality control; when this office will be fully staffed and fully operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32368/04]
View answerFollowing a competition for the post of Commissioner for Taxi Regulation in 2003, the Civil Service and Local Appointments Commission was unable to recommend a candidate for appointment. A further recruitment competition on the basis of an enhanced salary for the position was held in 2004 and Mr. Ger Deering was recommended for appointment.
The Commission for Taxi Regulation was established as an independent public body under the Taxi Regulation Act 2003, with effect from 1 September 2004, and Mr. Deering took up his position as Commissioner for Taxi Regulation with effect from that date. In the immediate term, the commission has set about finding suitable office accommodation in Dublin, recruiting the requisite staff for the commission and putting in place an administrative system. The commission operates from temporary offices provided by my Department but it has identified suitable accommodation for its offices and the legal issues relating to the lease of this property are expected to be completed shortly.
The Commissioner for Taxi Regulation is supported by one staff member and it is hoped that a recruitment process for further support staff will be commenced in the near future. The commission is also at an advanced stage in the development of an information and communications strategy, procurement of a range of office technology, equipment and systems and the development of administrative procedures.
The principal function of the commission is the development and maintenance of a new regulatory framework for the control and operation of small public service vehicles and their drivers. The commission has already commenced a broad consultative process and, to inform its decisions and form a baseline for the development of key performance indicators for its work, the commission is initiating a review to assess the extent and quality of services currently provided by small public service vehicles and examine existing quality and safety regulations relating to small public service vehicles and their drivers. This review will include an examination of the current regulatory framework that applies to the licensing and operation of small public service vehicles.
