Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We all know why we are here. It is just over two years since our good friend, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, commenced his legislative programme in the Department. Many of us here were aware of the damage he was going to impose on rural Ireland and even on the periphery of the bigger towns. We have evidence of that. Since Christmas, rural Ireland has been in lockdown. It is a fact and we have not even come into the Lenten period. One can imagine what pubs in rural Ireland will be like next week when no one will be out in the villages and towns. I welcome TDORA to the committee. I hope it is representative of all taxi bodies nationally. I ask the witnesses to clarify that whether they are from Kerry, Donegal or north Cork, every taxi body is represented. No one wants to see the taxi business undermined when livelihoods are at stake but there is an issue here. I am glad taxi drivers acknowledge that there is a problem in rural transport and access for people in rural communities to their nearest villages and towns. While I accept the proposals in principle and welcome them, it is a pity they did not emerge previously. The committee and some Members in the Dáil and Seanad have tried to impress on the Minister the need for alternative proposals. It is ironic today that the NTA has acknowledged through Ms Anne Graham that it is prepared to make subsidies available to individual drivers of minibuses, wheelchair accessible vehicles and cars. Why did it take over two years? The Department could have been in discussions with Transport for Ireland.

Taxi drivers in my area have approached me with their concerns on their existing costs of operation. TDORA's proposals, however, will limit their access to 15 km. I have no problem with that given that 15 km is the average distance from towns with public services. However, I ask about eligibility. Even now, taxi drivers ask me why drivers have to know the maps of Ireland. When they are living in Mitchelstown or Glanmire, why should they have to know about access to Bundoran or the Inishowen Peninsula? Something needs to be done about that. It is one of the reasons access is being restricted to applicants. I came across the case of a man with a decent business in north Cork. Having a number of vehicles means a phenomenal capital overhead. While his vehicles have passed the appropriate NCT or departmental test without a problem, the NTA might put a car off the road over a few scratches in respect of the suitability test. How will we make vehicles available in rural Ireland if the NTA puts such obstructions in the way? I ask the witnesses to cover that. Obviously, they will have to deliberate with the NTA.

The witnesses said, in fairness, that drivers preferred to cover the intensive areas where the short runs are and the quick buck is available as opposed to taking a person on a long run. Obviously, the latter takes a vehicle out of circulation for a long time. Would the witnesses be prepared to allow this service to operate on a 24-7 basis? The tender is restricted to the afternoon and closing time but there is a suggestion around night clubs. The inability of taxi operators to get people off the streets can lead to anti-social behaviour. That is one of the reasons there is anti-social behaviour outside some night clubs. Teenagers and adults cannot be got out of the way as quickly as possible. Could this service be incorporated to facilitate night clubs in Youghal or Mallow? It causes anti-social behaviour when there is a build-up of young people outside night clubs while waiting for transport home. There are only so many taxis. Would the witnesses' proposal cover this also?

While I have to welcome the proposals, I hope the horse has not bolted. The NTA is attending today and I will ask it why it took it a year and a half to wake up to the issue. The Minister still has not woken up to the fact that there is a problem and that mental health issues are arising behind the doors of houses in the countryside. People do not see other people as often as they used to. They used to go down to their local, have a few words and get home safely. While I welcome the proposals, I am concerned that too many restrictions may be put in place and that delivery may take too long.