Vol. 572 No. 6
332 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Transport the progress which has been made by the interim taxi regulator in establishing standards for the delivery of taxi services and ensuring that there is a reasonable level of availability at all times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23996/03]
An interim chairman of the proposed commission for taxi regulation was appointed in February 2003 and has carried out a series of detailed consultations over recent months with those involved in the taxi, hackney and limousine industry, local authorities, the Garda Síochána and other interest groups with a view to assessing and addressing issues relating to standards in the industry. The issues arising from those consultations will be considered and addressed by the statutory commissioner for taxi regulation when that appointment is made in accordance with the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003. The new Act provides the legislative basis for the establishment of the commission for taxi regulation and for the development by it of enhanced standards and quality improvements in relation to the services offered by small public service vehicles and their drivers.
