Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 March 2021
132. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if he has engaged with the taxi representative associations since their protest in September 2020 which called for a range of supports and reforms in the sector; the changes that have been introduced since then; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15572/21]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, I have met with taxi representative groups both before and after their protest. I also met with the Advisory Committee on Small Public Service Vehicles (SPSV) and plan to do so again in April. The Committee is the primary stakeholder forum for the industry and enjoys a broad membership with members representing driver interests, dispatch operators, passenger interests, the tourist industry, consumer groups, and official stakeholders such as Local Government and An Garda Síochána. It has been a highly effectively forum since the start of the pandemic and I have encouraged taxi representatives to work through this committee.
The Deputy may be aware that the Government has introduced a wide-ranging programme of supports with broad eligibility criteria for individuals and businesses which have been adversely affected by COVID-19. These supports include wage subsidies, rates waivers, restart grants, lending facilities, equity injection, business advisory supports, and the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
In response to recommendations received from the Advisory Committee in mid-2020, my Department and the National Transport Authority (NTA), the statutory regulator, took additional action to support the industry.
The NTA has extended vehicle age limits to the end of 2021 and my Department has provided funding to the NTA to enable it to waive its standard annual SPSV (vehicle) licence renewal fees in 2021. In addition, the NTA has expanded the eSPSV scheme which assists drivers making the switch to electric vehicles. In recognition of the particular difficulties faced by operators of older vehicles reaching the end of their useful life, the amount payable under the scheme has doubled to €20,000 for those operators who scrap older, high mileage vehicles for new full electric models.
