Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2024
235. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport his plans to support the roll-out the UBER service in rural counties like Cavan and Monaghan due to the taxi shortage and the impact this is having on the rural pub/restaurant trade; if he will outline what his Department are actively doing to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14754/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including SPSV licensing, is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA), under the provisions of the Consolidated Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 and 2016. I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of the SPSV industry.
I can inform the Deputy that Uber is 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 licenced drivers using SPSV licensed vehicles.
As of 29th February 2024, the number of licensed SPSV drivers is 26,567. Two hundred and fifteen (215) of these licences relate to drivers in Monaghan, while a further 241 are licenced to drivers who operate in Cavan. The current number of licensed SPSVs in the fleet is 19,796. A licensed vehicle can be operated anywhere in the country. It is only the licensed driver that has a geographical area restriction. In May 2023, the NTA undertook a nationally representative survey of taxi user research which covered the topic of availability. Of the respondents, which included both rural and urban areas, 81% reported finding it easy to get a taxi (under 15 minutes).
Section 73(5) of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 provides that I may consult with, or seek the advice of, the Advisory Committee on Small Public Service Vehicles on any matter arising in relation to their functions with respect to small public service vehicles and their drives. I have recently written to the Advisory Committee to request its consideration of how taxi availability can be assessed, and to make recommendations on how relevant data can be collected.
Where there is a demonstrated lack of SPSV services, applications are open to any person who wishes to provide a local area hackney service, subject to the regulations. To operate a local area hackney service, two licences are required. These are (1) a local area hackney licence for the vehicle and this three-year licence is obtainable from the NTA; and (2) a licence to drive a local area hackney - this licence is obtainable from An Garda Síochána. This is not required if a person already holds a valid licence to drive small public service vehicles.
A resident of the area in respect of which the local area hackney licence is sought, is not required to undertake the Industry Knowledge or Area Knowledge tests as would normally be the case when applying for SPSV driver licences. Local area hackney drivers nevertheless must be licenced and their vehicles must be licenced and insured. There are currently 25 local area hackneys active nationwide.
In 2023, the NTA launched the Local Hackney Pilot scheme, a grant-aided pilot to support rural transport needs where existing transport services were found to be lacking. Despite significant work undertaken by the NTA to support the provision of local hackney services nationwide, only two operators chose to become licenced under the grant supported Pilot (Roundwood and Castlepollard).
