Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I understand the Deputy's point but I will not be accepting the amendment. The NTA is funded by the Exchequer by way of an administration grant and from revenue received from fees generated from the SPSV licensing activity. Under section 54 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003, as amended by the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009, income generated from fees that is surplus to the income necessary to meet the demands of taxi regulation shall be applied for the purpose of meeting expenses properly incurred by the authority. The current policy in this regard is adequately provided for in this legislation or in current legislation as amended, and I have no plans to change it. However, it was always my complete intention that in any changes we make across the regulation of the industry, the costs to taxi drivers are kept to an absolute minimum. As regards future changes, which are not part of this Bill or the regulations as currently constituted, I will always examine ways in which we can ensure that as little cost as possible is borne by the drivers themselves.