Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
317. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Transport the requirements and steps necessary for a person resident in Northern Ireland and an Irish citizen with a Northern Irish driving licence to apply for a small public service vehicle licence to drive a taxi in the Republic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41884/22]
View answerThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector, is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA), under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. Under Section 6(2) of this Act, An Garda Síochána (AGS) is responsible for the granting of SPSV driver licences.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 requires the holding of a small public service vehicle (SPSV) licence and a SPSV driver licence to carry persons for hire or reward in the State – it does not provide for services across a border. The 2013 Act and its requirements only apply to services provided in the State - it does not provide for services across a border. The legislative position in Northern Ireland is similar. Thus, under current legislation, a taxi operator wishing to operate cross-border services legally, would have to apply for and obtain licences on each side of the border. Unlike other areas of transport - such as bus and road haulage operations - taxi services are not subject to EU harmonisation, so arrangements for regulating taxi services remain a matter for the relevant authorities in each State, in respect of services that operate in their jurisdiction. Therefore, in Ireland, obtaining a SPSV driver licence is a matter for AGS.
