Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Has Mr. Creegan evidence of the uptake of the rural hackney licence? In my view we may have been able to kill two birds with one stone if we had offered a dual licence, the small public service vehicle licence with the rural hackney licence? Will Mr. Creegan say whether these licences are compatible? If I were living in a rural area and applying for the hackney licence and thought it would be beneficial to get a licence for a small public service vehicle, I think I would do so if it were incentivised. The only way we can incentivise the take up of this licence is by offering a grant. People in wheelchairs are more affected if they live in a rural area that has no taxi or hackney licensed vehicles. If we were to consider a combination of the three licences, that might incentivise a greater take up. Mr. Creegan may have evidence to contradict that point. Some people in wheelchairs have no way to leave their homes. I think the rural hackney licence is a very good idea, but I have no idea how many will take it up.