Results 1-20 of 8,532 for speaker:Alan Kelly in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (17 May 2011)

Alan Kelly: 1Authorised persons, appointed under Section 49 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003, have the power at any reasonable time to enter the premises or place where any taxi activity takes place. Members of the Gardaí are also deemed to be authorised persons under the 2003 Act. In addition, section 49(5)(b) of the 2003 Act requires the presence of a Garda Síochána in cases where a taxi vehicle is...

Written Answers — Taxi Hardship Panel: Taxi Hardship Panel (18 May 2011)

Alan Kelly: The Deputy's original question did not issue to the agency due to revised procedures in my office, and I apologise for that. My Department contacted Pobal in this regard last week and I understand that the response will issue to the Deputy this week.

Written Answers — Sports Funding: Sports Funding (24 May 2011)

Alan Kelly: My Department does not provide funding assistance under the Dormant Account Scheme or any other funding scheme that would be appropriate to the specialist services engaged in by the group mentioned. I understand that the Dormant Account Fund Disbursements Board is under the remit of the Department for the Environment, Community and Local Government and I will forward the Question to my...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulation: Taxi Regulation (24 May 2011)

Alan Kelly: With effect from 1st January 2011, the former Commission for Taxi Regulation (CTR) was subsumed into the National Transport Authority (NTA). I understand that the accumulated surplus of the CTR at the end of 2010 was approximately €20m. The use of income from fees set in respect of the licensing of small public service vehicles is a matter, in the first instance, for the NTA in accordance...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulation: Taxi Regulation (24 May 2011)

Alan Kelly: The Taxi Regulation Act, 2003, does not provide for the introduction of a moratorium on the issue of new taxi licences. Among other things, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has the statutory objective of promoting the provision and maintenance of quality services by small public service vehicles and their drivers. Last week, I confirmed that a full scale review of the taxi industry...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulation: Taxi Regulation (24 May 2011)

Alan Kelly: Upon the dissolution of the Commission for Taxi Regulation (CTR) on 1 January 2011, all the regulatory functions provided for under section 9 of the Taxi Regulation Act, 2003 were transferred to the National Transport Authority (NTA). The Taxi Regulation Directorate of the NTA administers these functions. All former staff of the CTR were transferred to and became employees of the NTA with...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulation: Taxi Regulation (24 May 2011)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 440 and 447 together. The regulation of the taxi industry is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA). Inspection and enforcement are also the responsibility of the NTA in cooperation with An Garda Síochána. NTA compliance officers have extensive enforcement powers as authorised officers under section 49 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003. However...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulation: Taxi Regulation (24 May 2011)

Alan Kelly: The vetting of applicants for small public service vehicles (SPSV) driver licences and the issue of such licences is currently the responsibility of An Garda Síochána. Current obligations on taxi vehicle licence holders is a matter for the NTA and I have referred your Question to the NTA for direct reply. Please notify my Office if you do not receive a reply with ten working days. I should...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulation: Taxi Regulation (24 May 2011)

Alan Kelly: The regulation of the taxi industry, including the enforcement of driver identification display in taxis, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA). I have referred the Deputy's Question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten days.

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (26 May 2011)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 118 together. The forthcoming review of the taxi sector will be undertaken in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government and its Terms of Reference will be announced shortly. The review will enable stakeholder consultation so that the views of both the taxi sector as well as the interest of consumers can be addressed. To date I have met...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (26 May 2011)

Alan Kelly: An Garda Síochána is responsible for the vetting of Small Public Service Vehicle driver licence applicants and the issue of such licences. It has also a key role in taxi regulation enforcement, which it carries out in cooperation with the National Transport Authority under the Taxi Regulation Act 2003. Members of An Garda Síochána are authorised persons for the purpose of Section 49 of...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (31 May 2011)

Alan Kelly: Under Section 49 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 Members of An Garda Síochána are authorised persons for the purpose of enforcement of the 2003 Act. A range of fixed charge offences, which can be issued by authorised persons under Section 46 of the 2003 Act, is set out in the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 (Fixed Charge Offences) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 722 of 2007). In practice only the...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (1 Jun 2011)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44, 47, 51, 56 and 58 together. Terms of reference and the overall approach to the forthcoming review of the taxi sector are close to finalisation and will be announced shortly. The review will be undertaken in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government. The review will enable necessary further qualitative reforms of the sector to allow...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (1 Jun 2011)

Alan Kelly: Terms of reference and the overall approach to the forthcoming review of the taxi sector are close to finalisation and will be announced shortly. The review will be undertaken in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government. The review will enable necessary further qualitative reforms of the sector to allow consumers to have confidence in the taxi system while also ensuring...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (2 Jun 2011)

Alan Kelly: The issue raised is the direct responsibility of the National Transport Authority (NTA). I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Taxi Regulation: Taxi Regulation (7 Jun 2011)

Alan Kelly: With effect from 1 January 2011, the former Commission for Taxi Regulation (CTR) was subsumed into the National Transport Authority (NTA) under section 36 of the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009. The NTA is funded from an exchequer grant and taxi licence fees. Section 50 (2) of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003, prescribes that income from taxi licence fees received by the NTA shall be applied...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (9 Jun 2011)

Alan Kelly: The enforcement of driver identification regulations is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in cooperation with An Garda Síochána. However the future of the rules governing this area is something the review of the taxi industry (the terms of which I announced yesterday) will examine further. I have referred the Deputy's Question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (15 Jun 2011)

Alan Kelly: The regulation of the taxi industry, including the issuing of small public service vehicle (SPSV) licences, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA). I have referred the Deputy's Question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my Office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (15 Jun 2011)

Alan Kelly: The NTA is currently reviewing appropriate small public service vehicle standards for consumers. The NTA will start a public consultation on proposed measures this year with a view to advancing new regulations to come into force in early 2012. As part of the review of the taxi sector announced by me on 8 June last, the current NTA examination of appropriate vehicle standards including the...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (15 Jun 2011)

Alan Kelly: Decisions regarding the location and operation of taxi ranks on public roads, as well as funding for the provision of taxi ranks, are primarily matters for the relevant local authority. Under section 84 of the Road Traffic Act 1961, as amended, a local authority is empowered to make by-laws in respect of the places at which taxis may stand for hire. The making of such by-laws is a reserved...