Seán Haughey
Ceist:382 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans, if any, he has to allow hackney drivers use bus corridors; and if he will make a statement on the mastter. [9708/99]
Written Answers. - Bus Corridors.
As stated in reply to Question No. 281 of 9 March 1999, I am currently seeking to progress, with the various interests concerned, a range of improvements to the regulatory framework for taxis and hackneys, following closely the advice addressed to the Minister for the Environment and Local Government by the Dublin Taxi Forum. These regulatory improvements, as recommended by the forum, include issues related to hackneys such as external identification, the use of two-way radios and telephonic equipment and the carrying of a log of agreed fares. The forum has, however, recommended against the merging of the separate service roles of taxis and hackneys and, in that context, against permitting use of bus lanes by hackneys.
In the meantime, wider use of bus lanes has been effected by the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations, 1998 which extend the use of bus lanes to all large public service vehicles.