Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Were there changes regarding the age of the vehicle which forced 70 or 80 people out of the business? There was a requirement to have a newer vehicle but that requirement was abandoned at a later stage, meaning the required upper age limit went from three to six years. Is it not the case that the approach taken has, perhaps inadvertently, pushed people out of the business? If people are getting out, they clearly do not see a business in this area, so introducing a possibility for a smaller vehicle that is cheaper to license still does not guarantee that individuals will pick up the fares of people who need it most. This is a cheap entry point but will these smaller vehicles ply the regular trade like everybody else? The unfortunate individuals depending on wheelchair-accessible vehicles will still be in the same position.