Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

This matter comes under the remit of the Commission on Taxi Regulation. The recently announced regulations in this regard provide for the 10% target and provide that new licences will only be issued for taxis that are wheelchair accessible. This will increase the percentage of wheelchair accessible taxis. In addition, the taxi regulator made a proposal for a scheme to assist those who want to provide such taxis but it did not find favour because of difficulties with VAT regulations and the EU. A further proposal is being considered, which might help. The new regulations and proposal should help to increase the supply of wheelchair accessible taxis.

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