Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)

This is something of a fairytale. A total of 6% of taxis are wheelchair accessible, yet the programme for Government states 100% of taxis will be accessible by the end of 2010. What has happened to that commitment? The taxi regulator is only seeking that 10% of the fleet be wheelchair accessible by the end of the year while the Irish Wheelchair Association is seeking a minimum of 20%. New European Union regulations will have to be implemented by the end of 2012. That means the 6% of taxis currently complying with the regulations will be put off the road since they will be unable to comply with the new regulations because it will cost an arm and a leg to do so. No hackney in the State is wheelchair accessible. What are the Minister's plan to meet any of the targets such as 10% of the fleet or to even retain the current 6%? His own 100% cannot be met.

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