Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 March 2023
10. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport if he will ensure the National Transport Authority regulations regarding renewal of taxi licences incorporate some leeway on deadlines; if he will provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4807/23]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the independent transport regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA), is the licensing authority for small public service vehicles (SPSVs) and An Garda Síochána is the licensing authority for the drivers of SPSVs. I have no role in the day-to-day operations of the SPSV sector.
In July 2021, the NTA increased the 12 month period that a taxi, hackney or limousine licence may remain in inactive status after its expiry, to 24 months. The Small Public Service Vehicle (Emergency Measure COVID-19) (Expired Licence) Regulations 2021 brought about this increase. This was a permanent amendment to the Regulations and the purpose of this amendment was to allow SPSV licence holders to remain attached to the industry during the pandemic.
As a courtesy, the NTA sends reminder letters to the licence holder’s postal and e-mail addresses eight and four weeks (eight weeks only for e-mail) prior to the expiry date of the licence. Licence holders are advised to commence the renewal process up to two months before the vehicle licence expires as it is important to ensure that the vehicle licence does not expire. This also allows time for the licence holder to organise the necessary paperwork and to arrange an NCT roadworthiness test.
While I sympathise with the situation as highlighted by the Deputy, the NTA is precluded by law from replacing a SPSV licence where an application is received after the deadline. I have been informed that there are currently two options available should a driver wish to return to operating in the SPSV industry:
- Apply for a new vehicle licence for the following categories of vehicle: wheelchair accessible taxi, wheelchair accessible hackney and limousine.
- Rent a licensed, insured SPSV: SPSV Regulations permit a vehicle licence holder to rent the insured vehicle to another person. The person providing the rental must own the vehicle or be entitled to use it as an SPSV whilst also being the holder of the vehicle licence and must provide appropriate insurance for the period of the rental. The driver renting the vehicle must ensure they create a driver to vehicle link, before operating.
