Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 February 2016
575. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cavan is unable to transfer a hackney licence to a relative; the requirements or conditions for passing a hackney licence onto family members; if special dispensations exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4038/16]
View answerThe Taxi Regulation Review Report 2011 recommended the prohibition on the transferability of small public service vehicle (SPSV) licences. The underlying principle for the recommendation was 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. The measure was provided for in Section 14(1) of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 which was commenced with effect from 6th April 2014. Special provisions, contained in Section 15 of the 2013 Act, apply in the case of the death of a licence holder, whereby a licence may continue to be operated by a person nominated by the licence holder before his/her death.
The regulation of the SPSV industry is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013, including administration of the nomination process under section 15 and the requirements relating to rental of a small public service vehicle to another person. I have therefore referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
