Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 8 Jun 1971

Vol. 254 No. 7

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hackney Driver Regulations.

11.

Mr. Harte

asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that under existing regulations hackney drivers in rural Ireland who held valid licences between 1st September, 1968, and 1st September, 1970, are charged £1 for their badge licence and £1.50 for their car licence, which cover a three year period; that in other cases licences are only granted to the owners of vehicles which are not older than two years and that the badge and car licences, which are non-transferable, now cost £11 and £30 respectively; why this distinction is made; and if he will take steps to reduce the charges of £11 and £30.

12.

Mr. Harte

asked the Minister for Local Government if he is satisfied that the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations, 1970, are suitable for conditions outside the taxi meter areas; if, in view of the fact that the service life of Rolls Royces, Austin Princesses etc. is up to 20 years, he will state why the regulation relating to two year old cars was made; if he is aware that the fee of £30 is excessive, particularly in respect of licence holders in rural Ireland who might only use their vehicles at weekends to supplement their incomes; and that some rural parts of Donegal, which are tourist centres, are now left with no hackney service because of these regulations; and if, in view of the general dissatisfaction and the deteriorating service, he will consider reverting to the pre-1970 regulations in respect of areas other than taxi meter areas.

Mr. Lalor (for the Minister for Local Government)

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 12 together.

The amending regulations which were brought into operation in the latter part of last year were designed with the object of seeking an improvement in the standards of the business and in the livelihood of persons engaged in it. There are important concessions in the amending regulations in so far as they apply to hackney and taxi operators who held licences at any time during the two year period prior to 1st September, 1970. For example, the higher rate of fees mentioned by the Deputy does not apply to such people when seeking renewal of their licences, nor does the provision governing the age of a car apply where they are replacing an existing car. At the time of making the amending regulations I announced that I proposed to review their effects within two years and I intend to do that.

I am not aware that tourist centres are without hackney services because of the regulations, nor that there is general dissatisfaction with the new provisions. If the Deputy would wish to bring particular cases to my attention, I will be pleased to examine them in the course of the review which I have undertaken to conduct.

Mr. Harte

I am quite sure that if the Minister contacts the Garda authorities in Letterkenny he will get all the information that I could give him. I have had nothing but complaints from people in County Donegal who find it impossible to get cars older than two years passed by the PSV officers. Does the Minister not consider that this is not in the interests of people who want to get into the hackney business, and does he not consider that the present regulations lend themselves to being used by illegal operators?

Mr. Lalor

In actual fact the whole object of the ministerial regulations was to get over this problem, to try to protect the hackney man who has been in business for quite a while, and to prevent incursions being made into his business by temporary, part-time, newly-created, overnight operators.

Mr. Harte

This might be so in taxi meter areas but I would ask the Minister to re-examine the position in rural Ireland where a person who wishes to take out a hackney licence must produce a motor car which is not older than two years and may pay a licence fee of £30 and £11 for his badge. This is criminal in view of the fact that most of these operators use them at the weekend only.

Mr. Lalor

It is quite obvious that the Deputy is not looking at it from the point of view of existing hackney men. As I have stated in the reply on behalf of the Minister, the Minister proposes to review the effects of those regulations and those matters can be brought to his attention.

Mr. Harte

Would the Minister contact the authorities in Donegal about the complaints I have received?

Mr. Lalor

The question relates to licensed holders in rural Ireland and the Deputy is now speaking about potential licence holders.

Mr. Harte

That is the type of thinking that has got this country into the muddle it is in.

Mr. Colley

The Deputy cannot understand the difference between them.

Mr. Harte

If the Minister cannot understand the point I am making he should admit it.

Mr. Lalor

Over the past couple of weeks the Deputy did not know what question he was asking when he asked supplementaries.

An Ceann Comhairle

Question No. 13.

Mr. Harte

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to raise the subject matter of those questions on the Adjournment.

Dr. O'Connell

That is the way to treat him.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.