Mr. Myles O'Reilly:

What we are proposing would be regulated as well as hackneys and taxis. The village transport would also be regulated by the NTA. The question of the wheelchair accessible vehicle, WAV, requirement is a requirement of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and a requirement of this committee. It is stated in a recent report on disability that all public transport vehicles should be wheelchair accessible. We made the proposal in order to comply with the present policy. We agree completely with Deputy O'Keeffe about some of the questions that are asked for those wishing to become drivers. The tests to become a hackney or taxi driver require far too much study and are completely unnecessary. With the village transport scheme, we are proposing a very easy test that would only require two or three days' preparation, to know the local area and to know the regulations related to that service only. On the questions of cars of 14 years, it would not seem unreasonable that the cars should comply with the same rules as taxis and others and be nine years old at a maximum.