Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 June 2018
193. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to allow taxi driver applicants to undergo the Garda vetting process at application stage rather than after the small public service vehicle, SPSV, licence has issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26960/18]
View answerI do not have any plans in this respect as the regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. Also, under this Act, An Garda Síochána (AGS) is responsible for the granting of SPSV driver licences, which includes the administration of the associated Garda vetting process.
While decisions regarding the detail as to how these procedures are administered by the NTA and An Garda Siochana respectively are clearly not for me or for my Department, I am aware that my Department has had discussions with taxi industry representatives in relation to a number of matters, including specifically the stage in the overall licensing process at which the Garda vetting process commences for SPSV applicants. Following that engagement, my Department has given a commitment to discuss this issue as raised by industry representatives with the NTA within the context of the Department's regular liaison with the NTA regarding taxi matters generally.
