Michael Collins
Ceist:147. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Transport to address matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36029/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 5 July 2022
Ceisteanna (147)
Freagraí scríofa
Small public service vehicles (SPSVs) are regulated in Ireland by the independent transport regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013.
However, I can inform the Deputy that Uber has been licensed by the NTA as a dispatch operator and has been operating as such in Ireland since 2014. Since Uber is considered a transport service which offers the carriage of passengers for reward, it is subject to the same regulations as other SPSV operators. Dispatch operators are required to only provide bookings to SPSV licensed drivers using SPSV licensed vehicles.
A fundamental tenet of Ireland’s SPSV regulatory regime is that only SPSV licensed drivers and vehicles are used for the carriage of passengers for reward, to protect the consumer and help ensure public safety. The approach taken in Ireland in this area has been since adopted in other jurisdictions. While there is a common misconception that the old-style Uber “random standard driving licence holder” still operates in the UK and throughout Europe, the Deputy should be aware that, after experiences of ride-hailing as recently described in the media, regulations have been changed in the UK to only permit police vetted and licensed drivers to operate – even for “rideshare” - in London.
Finally, I can confirm that I met with Uber representatives on 10th June last. Uber is satisfied with the regulatory structure of the SPSV industry in Ireland, as it’s clear to the company how it can legally operate here.