Taxi Licences

Thursday, 1 February 2024

Questions (64)

Robert Troy

Question:

64. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport if he will review the criteria for awarding taxi plates. [4597/24]

View answer

Written answers

The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector, including SPSV licensing, is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 and 2016. I have no role in the day-to-day operations of the SPSV industry.

The Deputy may be aware that the transfer of licences for SPSVs is prohibited under section 14(1) of the Taxi Regulation Act, 2013. All SPSV vehicle licences are unique to the person to whom the licence has been issued and cannot be transferred or sold to another person.

There is no cap on either vehicle or driver licence numbers in Ireland. The NTA is currently accepting licence applications for wheelchair accessible taxis, wheelchair accessible hackneys, limousines, and local area hackneys. I am informed that a vehicle is licensed to operate anywhere in the country.

SPSV Regulations permit a vehicle licence owner to rent out or lease the insured and licensed taxi, hackney or limousine to another person. The vehicle licence owner providing the rental package must be the registered owner of the vehicle (or be entitled to use it as an SPSV for a minimum period of 12 months), have the vehicle licensed in their name, and must provide the insurance on the vehicle. That is normally included in the rental fee to the licenced driver. This licence holder is the only party the NTA may engage with in respect of SPSV licensing activity. The NTA must be notified of the rental by the SPSV licence holder and must be provided with details of the period of the arrangement, the renter’s SPSV driver licence number and the vehicle registration number. A record of the vehicle licence associated with the rental agreement must also be maintained by the SPSV licence holder. As of January 18th 2024, 99 licence holders hold 10 or more licences, out of a total of 15,385 licence holders with active licences.