Finian McGrath
Question:682. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the proposed Taxi Bill. [56470/12]
View answerTuesday, 18 December 2012
Questions (682)
Written answers
Overall the thrust of the reforms arising from the Taxi Regulation Review will mean better services for consumers and improvements to the operating environment for taxi drivers generally. The Taxi Regulation Bill 2012 will support measures to ensure that operators and drivers can operate under a robust regulatory framework that is supported by an effective enforcement regime.
As proposed in the Taxi Regulation Review Report, it is envisaged that there will be a prohibition on the transfer of small public service vehicle (SPSV) licences. The underlying principle for this proposal is that a licence should determine a person's suitability to carry out a function and it should have no monetary value or be traded on the open market. There is a legislative provision concerning the prohibition on transfer of such licences in the Taxi Regulation Bill 2012.
I understand that the NTA is considering the option, for the purposes of ensuring the continuity of a taxi business upon the death of the vehicle licence holder, that an application by the next of kin for a licence can be facilitated.
Under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003, the setting of maximum taxi fares is a statutory function of the NTA. Following a consultation process on the proposal for increase of the order of 3.5% to 4% in maximum fares, the NTA announced last week that there would be no modification to the existing maximum fares.
Action 31 of the Taxi Regulation Review Report in 2011 proposes the introduction of a distinctive branding on taxis and wheelchair accessible taxis by means of a semi-permanent decal (vinyl adhesive material printed with a particular design) to be applied to the doors on either side of the vehicle, incorporating the umbrella 'Transport for Ireland' design. The aim of the branding is to provide greater recognition of taxis, promote greater professionalism of the industry and to reduce the potential for unlicensed vehicles to operate as taxis.
The Taxi Advisory Committee, which I appointed during this summer, includes representatives of small public service vehicle and driver interests in line with the provisions of Section 54 of the Taxi Regulation Act, 2003.There were two working taxi drivers on the review group.