Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 26 Jan 2000

Vol. 513 No. 1

Written Answers. - Taxi Regulations.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

113 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the status of the proposal announced in December 1999 to issue additional taxi licences for the Dublin area; if he will give details of other relevant issues which have been taken into consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1689/00]

Proinsias De Rossa

Ceist:

121 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will make a statement on the progress of his plan to increase the number of taxis operating in the Dublin region; the number of existing taxi licence holders who have applied for an additional licence; the number of cosies who have applied for additional licences; the number of each category granted additional licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1574/00]

Olivia Mitchell

Ceist:

532 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the changes agreed with taxi drivers in the method of issuing taxi licences since his pre-Christmas announcement; when the licences will be issued; and if they will be issued on a phased basis. [1362/00]

Seán Haughey

Ceist:

586 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when applications will be sought by Dublin Corporation in relation to the issue of new taxi plates; when those plates will be issued; the number of plates to be issued; the reason existing taxi plate holders were dealt with first for the issue of new plates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1993/00]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 113, 121, 532 and 586 together.

The revised An Action Programme for the Millennium, undertook to improve the Dublin taxi service through the introduction of measures to increase the number of taxi licences in Dublin as quickly as possible in order to ensure a proper balance between supply and demand in the market. On 30 November 1999 the Government approved measures for the early grant of a large number of new taxi licences in Dublin, involving the offer of one additional taxi or wheelchair accessible taxi licence to each individual who held a licence at end 1999, as well as 500 further licences to be granted to applicants under the current points assessment system. Some 500 of the licences to be granted will be in respect of wheelchair accessible taxis.

Meetings were held at their request with taxi representatives in December 1999 and this month at which details of the measures to be implemented were explained. In addition I have responded in writing to a number of stated concerns presented to me by taxi interests.

On 13 January 2000, I made regulations which establish an application process for all existing taxi licence holders in Dublin to apply for the grant of either a taxi or a wheelchair accessible taxi licence from Dublin Corporation. Individual notice to this effect has issued or is issuing to each existing licence holder, and applications must be received by the corporation on or before 18 February 2000. It will be possible at that stage to indicate details of the number of licence applications.

The regulations also provide for the making of an offer to grant a wheelchair accessible taxi licence to each licence holder who expresses a preference for the grant of such a licence and who complies with the requirements of the regulations. The remaining licences, including those to be offered to applicants under the current assessment system, are to be allocated in accordance with a scheme which I will shortly finalise.