Charlie O'Connor
Ceist:374 Mr. O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport if he is dealing with the concerns relating to the taxi industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16568/03]
Written Answers. - Taxi Regulation.
An Agreed Programme for Government sets out commitments in relation to taxi services including the appointment of a regulator for the future regulation of licensing, standards and the quality of service. On 19 November 2002 the Government approved proposals for the establishment, initially on a non-statutory basis, of an office of national taxi regulator.
Subject to the enactment of legislation, it is envisaged that the office of the taxi regulator will have a national focus and will have full effective control over the promotion of a professional, efficient and customer friendly service by all small public service vehicles, including taxis, hackneys and limousines. This will include the overall development and application of standards for drivers, licence holders and for vehicles.
The preparation of the necessary legislation to support the establishment of a commission for taxi regulation is proceeding as a matter of urgency in my Department and I hope to publish the taxi regulation Bill 2003 on Thursday next. I hope that the Bill will complete its passage through the Oireachtas during the current session. While the necessary legislative changes are being prepared, the appointment of a commissioner for taxi regulation is also being progressed independently.
As an interim measure, in February last I appointed an interim chairman of the commission, Mr. Jimmy Farrelly, pending the recruitment of a statutory chairman. Mr. Farrelly has commenced a series of detailed consultations with those involved in the taxi, hackney and limousine industry, local authorities, the gardaí and other interest groups with a view to assessing and addressing issues relating to standards in the industry. I have indicated that I am prepared to act on any recommendations proposed by Mr. Farrelly for urgent changes to the current regulations on standards proposed following this consultation.
Separate proposals are also being progressed to establish an advisory council, consisting of representatives of the industry, local authorities, the gardaí, consumer, disability, tourism and business interests, and other relevant sectors, to advise the commission for taxi regulation and the Minister for Transport, as appropriate, in relation to issues relevant to small public service vehicles and their drivers.
On 17 December 2002 the Government also approved the implementation on a phased basis of the recommendations of the Taxi Hardship Panel in accordance with An Agreed Programme for Government. The report of the Taxi Hardship Panel recommends the establishment of a scheme to provide payments to individual taxi licence holders who fall into one of six categories that the panel assessed as having suffered extreme personal financial hardship arising from taxi liberalisation.
The design and administration of a scheme to implement the recommendations of the Taxi Hardship Panel and the arrangements to facilitate the making of payments to eligible persons is being progressed as quickly as possible so as to ensure that applications are dealt with on a confidential and objective basis. Every effort is being made to put in place a structure to facilitate the commencement of payments on the basis of the panel recommendations as soon as possible.