Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 35 and 43 together.

Specific proposals such as providing taxi licences to public house owners in rural areas or determining vehicle standards that apply to taxi licences are currently matters which fall within the responsibility of the National Transport Authority, NTA, which regulates taxi services under the Taxi Regulation Act 2003.

The NTA revoked the "nine-year rule" relating to those renewing their standard taxi and hackney licence in 2011 who had applied for their first vehicle licence prior to 1 January 2009. The NTA also undertook a review of relevant vehicle standards for SPSVs, which has included a public consultation process. The aim of the NTA reform proposal is to improve the quality of service, comfort and safety of all passengers and drivers and its conclusions when finalised by the NTA will, in turn, also be considered by the taxi regulation review, which I chair.

The review of taxi regulation is examining all aspects of taxi regulation and will make specific recommendations on matters such as licensing, enforcement, vehicles standards, supply issues in rural and urban areas and future dialogue with the taxi sector. The review will enable the necessary further reforms of the sector to allow consumers to have confidence in the taxi system, while also ensuring that legitimate and competent operators and drivers will be rewarded for operating fairly under a regulatory framework that is adequately enforced. Good progress is being made by the review steering group and I hope to report to Government on the recommendations of the review in November. Subject to necessary approval of the review recommendations by Government, I then expect to make an early announcement of the outcome of the review

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