Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)

I am replying to this matter on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, and I thank Deputy Deenihan for raising it.

The Commission for Taxi Regulation was established under the Taxi Regulation Act 2003, with effect from 1 September 2004, and it is the independent body responsible for the development and maintenance of a new statutory framework for the control and operation of small public service vehicles, taxis, hackneys and limousines, and their drivers, under the 2003 Act. The commission is an independent regulator.

In 2005 the commission initiated a broad consultation process and a national review to assess the extent and quality of services currently provided by small public service vehicles and to examine existing quality and safety regulations regarding small public service vehicles and their drivers. The review was undertaken on behalf of the commission by Goodbody Economic Consultants and the Dublin Institute of Technology and it included consultation with relevant stakeholders and significant data collection and analysis. The commission advertised in the national press inviting written submissions by 7 March 2005 and, as part of the national public consultation, arranged a number of public meetings in Cork, Clonmel, Sligo and Dublin, which meetings took place in late February and early March 2005.

Face-to-face meetings were held with a range of stakeholders and it is understood that some 130 submissions were received in response to the public consultation process. There was also input from the advisory council to the Commission for Taxi Regulation, which was established under the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 to advise the Commission for Taxi Regulation and the Minister for Transport, as appropriate, on issues relevant to small public service vehicles and their drivers. The council consists of a chairperson and 17 ordinary members, representing the taxi, hackney and limousine industry, local authorities, the Garda Síochána, consumer, disability, tourism and business interests and other relevant sectors, as required under the Act.

On completion of the process outlined, in June 2005 the commission published Consultation Paper No. 2, Roadmap — Towards a new national code of regulation for taxis, hackneys and limousines in Ireland, which set out the areas where it was considered that change is required, along with the commission's proposed solutions. Again advertisements were placed in the national press in July 2005 inviting submissions on the roadmap by 26 September 2005. Given that the commission has also taken over the power to declare or alter taximeter areas and to fix maximum taxi fares from local authorities, it published a further Consultation Paper No. 3 — Taximeter Areas and Taxi Fares in October 2005 and invited submissions by 19 December 2005, again with national press advertisements in November 2005.

The commission has indicated that it is satisfied that it has carried out a widespread research and consultation process in advance of formulating the proposals for change contained in the Action Plan 2006-2007, Driving Forward, which was published on 7 March 2006. It sees the action plan and its reforms as the culmination of a process that has seen widespread consultation with the industry, customers, a variety of experts and the advisory council to the Commission for Taxi Regulation. I understand the commission received more than 500 submissions as part of the various consultation processes.

The new regulations, administrative structures, initiatives and services to be provided by the commission, as outlined in the action plan, will be put in place on a phased basis commencing this year. I understand that the commission will launch a major awareness programme in September to ensure that consumers and service providers alike are fully informed of the new reforms.

While the new national vehicle licensing system will be phased in commencing in April 2006, the majority of the changes announced recently, such as the introduction of a national taximeter area and national taxi fare structure, will not commence until September 2006 or later. The commission has indicated that where proposed changes have implications in terms of cost or investment for service providers, especially regarding vehicle standards, appropriate lead-in times for the various actions will be given, as outlined in the action plan. I understand that a further consultation process will be undertaken by the commission regarding vehicle standards.

The commission has expressed the view that implementation of the proposed changes will bring about improved levels of service for customers which in turn will lead to an increase in the use of small public service vehicles, including taxis, and greater opportunities for service providers. I share this belief and look forward to an enhanced and improved regulatory regime into the future to the benefit of service users and providers alike.

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