Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 June 2016
646. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to make changes to regulations governing the taxi industry; his plans for the operation of companies (details supplied) in the public transport market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14980/16]
View answerThe regulatory framework governing the small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector is the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 and regulations made under the Act by the National Transport Authority as regulator for the sector.
Under that regulatory framework the core requirement, with a small number of limited exemptions, is that the carriage of passengers for reward in a public place in any mechanically propelled vehicle with nine or less seats (including the driver's seat) is permitted only in a licensed vehicle driven by a licensed driver.
The underlying policy which governs this is a concern for passenger safety and a concern for passenger protection in relation to pricing. The rationale for taxi regulation is to ensure that passengers have a safe vehicle for their journey, with appropriate insurance in place, driven by a driver who has been vetted by An Garda Síochána and, in the case of taxis, with a pre-established and verified charging system.
In addition, the Government's policy is to ensure a high level of standards and professionalism in the industry for both the customer and the industry itself.
I recently met the National Transport Authority for a briefing on the areas under its remit, which includes taxi regulation, and I intend to give further consideration to the range of issues relating to the regulation of the taxi industry in Ireland in the coming weeks.
