Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 3 Mar 1999

Vol. 501 No. 4

Written Answers. - Taxi Regulations.

Derek McDowell

Ceist:

25 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has completed his consideration of the report of the Dublin Taxi Forum; the action, if any, he will take arising from the report; if his Department plans to deregulate taxis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6165/99]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy)

The Dublin Taxi Forum has addressed a comprehensive set of recommendations to a range of agencies: Government Departments, the Garda, local authorities and taxi service providers. These recommendations have been the subject of detailed consideration by all of the agencies concerned, including my Department in its role of providing the regulatory framework for taxi services. Proposals finalised in November 1998 by the joint taxi/hackney committee of the four Dublin local authorities reflect in considerable measure the recommendations of the forum in relation to new taxi licences and provide for the commissioning of 820 additional wheelchair accessible taxis over the next three years.

My Department has been progressing implementation of the forum recommendations addressed directly to it. Discussions to this end were held with representatives of taxi/hackney interests in December 1998 and meetings were also held with representative local authorities, including Dublin Corporation, in January of this year. Following this, I have recently made the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations 1999, to amend the points criteria used by licensing authorities for assessing applications for the granting of taxi licences and wheelchair accessible taxi licences, as recommended by the Dublin taxi forum. I intend that my Department will continue to work actively in co-operation with other relevant agencies in relation both to remaining forum recommendations addressed directly to it and to the wider implementation of the forum package.