Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman and apologise to the guests as I was caught elsewhere. I welcome the presence of the NTA representatives today. I acknowledge that they have come proposing solutions which is not always the case when groups come before the committee.

The critical matter here is the timeframe for implementation and whether the scheme will be backed up with adequate resources. Last August-September, in reaction to the drink driving legislation, the night time Local Link services were established. They were to be established for six months as a pilot, which has been extended for three months. Has there been an analysis of how the operations have worked? Anecdotally, having spoken to colleagues and some of the transport co-ordinating units themselves, they have worked well in some areas and in others there has been very low demand. I hope that the proposal here will not replace those services as they were not simply about bringing people out socially but they also helped bring those who work in towns late at night back to their villages and provided links to other transport services. They are not merely to bring people to and from the pub. We need to acknowledge that Local Link has worked in some areas.

I understand that all the transport co-ordination units have been put out to tender and they await information as to whether they have been successful. The current contract under which they operate expires on 31 March. The new operations would have to be in for 1 April. It is almost 1 March but people are still not aware whether they have been successful. In the context of continuing the Local Link service, is the NTA confident that the tenders will be awarded and there will be no disruption in service? If some providers lose their bid, it would be very onerous to establish a new service will have to be established before 1 April.

I now turn to the proposals before us today. A situation where there are only 13 hackney licences available nationally is not fit for purpose.

It is not working. The NTA is talking about simplifying the administration involved in the application process. Can the witnesses specify how it will simplify the process? Can they confirm the timeframe in respect of when the pilot will be up and running and how many resources have been allocated to the pilot system?

We heard a number of contributions this morning from taxi representatives, who are in the Public Gallery. Two major issues are the average age of taxis and recruitment of taxis drivers. Is the NTA confident that this will not prove to be challenge and that it will be able to get somebody to provide and run this pilot service?