Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 February 2025
270. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport for a step-by-step guide on how to apply and renew SPSV licences for local taxi drivers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7932/25]
View answerThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector, including vehicle licensing, is a matter for the independent regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA), under the provisions of the Consolidated Taxi Regulation Act 2013-2016. I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of the SPSV sector.
Neither the NTA or myself are involved in the issuing of SPSV driver licences. That is a matter for An Garda Síochána (AGS). SPSV driver licences (except local area hackney driver licences) are valid for up to five years. It is the responsibility of the driver to know when their SPSV driver licence expires and to make arrangements to renew it on time.
Local area hackney driver licences are valid for three years and cannot be renewed. The holder may, however, apply for a new licence.
The NTA sends out courtesy reminders advising drivers to renew their driver licence in the three months before their expiry date. This will ensure that their driver licence does not expire and that they receive their updated driver identity and display cards in time to continue working without interruption. It can take up to 12 weeks for a renewal to be processed by An Garda Síochána.
Drivers can apply for renewal of their licence up to three months before the driver licence expires. Irrespective of when the driver licence is renewed, before its expiry date, the new date will be five years from your current expiry date. So, there is no disadvantage to starting the renewal process three months before that date.
Renewal driver licences are granted only to people:
Who are confirmed by An Garda Síochána to be suitable persons to hold SPSV driver licences
Who hold an Irish driving licence or a driving licence from another EU, EEA or other recognised state
Whose tax affairs are up to date
Who hold a valid SPSV driver licence
There are two steps in renewing an SPSV Driver Licence:
Pay the €250 licence fee to the National Transport Authority by calling 0818 064 000.
Complete a PSV18 renewal form and submit it to the local Garda PSV office (outside Dublin) or to the Carriage Office (in Dublin).
For an application, a person will require the following:
• The receipt for the renewal fee
• Appropriate Photographs
• Evidence of tax compliance (provide the appropriate Revenue Tax Clearance Access Number from Revenue.ie)
• Their driving licence
• Their SPSV driver licence
• A written undertaking that the person will not drive an SPSV for more than 11 hours on any three consecutive days
• Details of any other occupation in which the person is engaged, and, if that other occupation involves driving, evidence that the person has informed the employer of their intention to apply for an SPSV driver licence
• A declaration that the person's health does not materially affect their ability to drive an SPSV
• A declaration that the person has not been convicted of any of the offences specified in section 30(3) or the Schedule to the Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 and 2016
• Any other documents requested by An Garda Síochána
The renewal application will be processed by An Garda Síochána, and, if approved, the person will, in due course, be issued with an SPSV driver licence. The NTA, after the person receives AGS approval, will then process and issue the driver identity and display cards.
