Skip to main content
Normal View

Taxi Regulations

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 October 2013

Tuesday, 15 October 2013

Questions (453, 463)

Finian McGrath

Question:

453. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the new Taxi Regulation Bill (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43187/13]

View answer

Finian McGrath

Question:

463. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reasons he has relinquished control over the taxi industry; if he has concerns regarding maximum fares, driver standards, vehicle standards and road safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43594/13]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 453 and 463 together.

The responsibility for taxi ranks is a matter for Local Authorities. Upon enactment, section 25 of the Taxi Regulation Bill 2012 will replace and restate Section 84 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 concerning the making of bye-laws by Local Authorities with regard to stands for taxis. Funding for taxi ranks may be awarded by the National Transport Authority (NTA) pursuant to section 69 of the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 as amended by the Bill (section 74).

The Taxi Regulation Bill 2012 is a vast improvement upon the legal provisions contained in the Taxi Regulation Act 2003. The Taxi Regulation Bill 2012 prescribes more precisely the scope of the regulatory powers for licensing, enforcement and regulation by the NTA, which already has responsibility for the regulation of the taxi industry as provided for under the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009. Within the legal framework provided for in the Taxi Bill the role of the regulator is balanced against the rights of the license holder or applicant and the rights and protections for passengers, thereby providing clear guidance for all concerned within the taxi industry.

The Taxi Bill makes provision under Section 20 for the NTA to prescribe in Small Public Service Vehicle(SPSV) regulations the standards for vehicles and for taxi drivers. This is a restatement and refinement of existing provisions under Section 34 and 39 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003. There is ongoing improvement in the regulation of vehicle standards by the NTA on foot of the recommendations of the Taxi Regulation Review Report 2011. The prohibition on the transfer of SPSV licences provided for under Section 14 of the Taxi Bill together with the recent changes to vehicle age will, I believe, have a significant impact in this regard, with safety benefits for taxi drivers, taxi users and other road users. With regard to the standards for taxi drivers, as I explained in Dail Debates on the Taxi Bill it is my view that regulations made in this area can only improve and promote the standards of professionalism in the industry and, as with all of the powers conferred on the NTA, it is incumbent on it to ensure that these powers are exercised in a reasonable manner.

The provisions under Section 24 of the Taxi Bill provide for a restatement of existing provisions in the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 concerning maximum fares in the State. The setting of the maximum taxi fare is a statutory function of the NTA. A review of taxi fares is carried out every two years by the Authority. Under the fares review this year, the NTA put forward a proposal to simplify the overall fare structure and to provide an approximate 3.6% to 4% increase in the maximum allowable fares. However, following consultation with the taxi advisory committee and the various different taxi groups, it was decided not to make any changes to the existing fares structure.

Top
Share