Desmond J. O'Malley
Ceist:27 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for the Environment the reason Cork has not been issued with licences for wheelchair-accessible taxis; and when these licences will issue. [10024/95]
Written Answers. - Wheelchair Accessible Taxis.
I made regulations on 31 May to introduce a number of fundamental changes to the system of licensing small public service vehicles. These regulations, which will come into operation on 1 September next, provide that the function of licensing taxis and hackneys will be transferred from the Garda Commissioner to certain local authorities and that these authorities can decide to grant licences for wheelchair accessible taxis in any taximeter area.
When the regulations come into operation, Cork Corporation, as licensing authority for the Cork taximeter area, can decide the number of wheelchair accessible taxis to be licensed for that area and will also be responsible for the grant of such licences.