Vol. 555 No. 1
120 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Transport the membership and terms of reference of the Taxi Hardship Panel; if his attention has been drawn to claims that the number of complaints regarding taxi drivers in Dublin has more than doubled since deregulation; the steps he is taking to ensure acceptable standards in the taxi service in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17594/02]
125 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Transport the membership of the panel which he has appointed to receive applications for compensation for the hardship caused by the deregulation of taxis; and if he has given guidance in writing or orally as to the criteria for compensation or the financial limits within which they are to operate. [17637/02]
138 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Transport the procedures which are to be put in place for taximen to put their case to the panel of three independent persons under the Taxi Hardship Panel; the manner in which cases are to be presented and evaluated; the moneys allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17730/02]
140 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Transport the membership of the Taxi Hardship Panel to evaluate applications from taxi drivers for compensation; the terms of reference within which it will operate; and the financial limits which have been given to it formally or informally for a compensation scheme. [17732/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 120, 125, 138 and 140 together.
A panel of three independent persons was appointed by the Government to report in general terms on the nature and extent of extreme personal financial hardship which may have been experienced by individual taxi licence holders arising from loss of income as a direct result of the liberalisation of entry to the taxi industry on 21 November 2000.
The panel was also asked to include in its report an estimate of the numbers of individual licence holders involved, the likely financial implications and the recommended criteria for assessment of extreme personal financial hardship under any subsequent proposed response by Government.
The panel consists of Mr. Kevin Bonner, Mr. Bill Attley and Ms Ann Riordan. No additional guidance or parameters were subsequently applied to the terms of reference for the panel.
The panel determined its own methodology for consideration. These included the issuing of invitations to individual holders of a taxi, or a wheelchair accessible taxi, licence at 21 November 2000, who consider that they have suffered extreme personal financial hardship arising from taxi liberalisation, through advertisements placed in the national newspapers to make submissions to the panel.
The panel also held meetings with various groups representing taxi interests.
As stated in An Agreed Programme for Government, the Government is committed to the implementation of the recommendations of the panel.
I have very recently received a copy of the panel's report and will give it careful consideration, following which I will submit to Government.
