I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 303 together.
The new taxi regime which has been established by the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations, 2000, is already bringing significant benefits to service users through the increased availability of taxis.
I am aware of the recent survey, "The Quality of Dublin's City-Centre Taxi Service: A Peak-Time Survey", which was carried out on behalf of the National Taxi Drivers' Union by the Centre for Urban and Regional Studies, Trinity College, Dublin. This survey is based on the experience of three Dublin city centre taxi ranks at peak times midweek and at weekends during the week of 22 April 2001. Its conclusions indicate improvement in service provision at certain times of the day, with problems persisting in relation to night time taxi services at weekends. While noting these limited conclusions, I anticipate that benefits to service users will have accumulated in the meantime with further new service providers becoming fully mobilised. I also note that the survey acknowledges the need for more detailed studies and surveys. In this regard, I am aware that Dublin Corporation, as the largest taxi licensing authority in the country, has engaged consultants to carry out a customer service assessment so as to compare current service levels with those obtaining during the last such assessment in 1998 and to identify potential areas for further service improvement. I anticipate that this study will provide more broadly based and up to date information on the level of taxi services in Dublin under the new regime.
With regard to the survey findings in relation to the availability of wheelchair-accessible vehicles, I have already put on record my intention that, by end 2003, the process will commence of making all taxi vehicles accessible. As regards quality of taxi vehicles, the same vehicle standards continue to apply in relation to new taxi licences as operated prior to the liberalisation of taxi licensing, with the exception of the present annual testing of vehicles by the National Car Testing Service instead of two-yearly as previously.
In addition to the above, I have already indicated that it is intended to consult extensively with representatives of consumer groups, of disabled persons, of taxi service providers and others to develop further quality improvements for taxi services in the medium term, for the benefit of both service providers and the public alike. My Department will finalise a consultation document in this regard in the near future.
