Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 September 2015
15. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to provide regulations for the operation of non-traditional private for hire transport, such as Uber or rickshaws, in towns and cities here given recent local and international concerns about the security of passengers and the standards applied to such services. [31948/15]
View answerI have been advised by the National Transport Authority (NTA) that Uber is licensed as a taxi dispatch operator, which is essentially a booking service. I understand that Uber has given an assurance to the NTA that it will use only licensed vehicles and licensed drivers and the NTA will monitor this position. On this basis the NTA are satisfied that the Uber model in Ireland is compliant with the prevailing legislation.
At present, there is no legislation in place to regulate the carriage of passengers by rickshaws. Rickshaws fall within the definition of 'pedal cycle' for the purposes of the Road Traffic Acts, as defined in section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1961. As such, they are obliged to obey the Road Traffic Acts and any regulations made under them, in the same way as other cyclists.
Rickshaws by their nature operate at a local level. Local authorities regulate many activities at local level through bye-laws made under local government regulation. In response to concerns, primarily health and safety, Dublin City Council (DCC), following a consultation process with relevant stakeholders, have prepared draft bye-laws under the Local Government Act 2001 to regulate the operation of rickshaws. It is my understanding that DCC, subject to receipt of certain legal clarifications, intend to bring the draft bye-laws, which would provide for a licensing regime for rickshaws, before the next meeting of the Strategic Policy Committee of the Council for their consideration.
