Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 June 2021
172. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Transport if consideration will be given to amending the nine-year rule as it pertains to taxi replacement with electric vehicles given that many taxi drivers will be unable to meet the current requirements especially after losing out on more than a year’s income during Covid-19 while still facing insurance and other costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32922/21]
View answer177. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport his plans to extend the age of vehicles used as taxis given that taxi drivers have not been driving the cars as heavily due to inactivity in the economy. [32970/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 172 and 177 together.
The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector, including vehicle age limits, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013.
At the start of the pandemic, the NTA, the independent statutory regulator for the SPSV sector, immediately extended age limits for taxis and hackneys and has since done so twice more. The most recent extension, made last month, ensures no vehicle will be forced to exit the fleet due to age limits in 2021 and I trust that the Authority will keep this issue under review as society and the economy reopens and passenger demand returns.
