David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 90: To ask the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 61 of 1 October 2008, if, following budget 2009, a final decision has been made on the provision of a subsidy scheme for taxi and hackney operators to purchase wheelchair accessible vehicles that comply with new standards; the further discussions he has had with the taxi regulator on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40018/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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As mentioned in the reply to the parliamentary question to which the Deputy refers, my Department has been in discussion with the Commission for Taxi Regulation about a subsidy scheme to assist with the purchase of accessible vehicles over a five-year period that will meet the new accessible vehicle specification developed by the commission. A number of options for the delivery of additional accessible vehicles are being explored by my Department, in order to improve accessibility to public transport for people with disabilities.

The Department's public transport accessibility committee recently discussed the provision of wheelchair accessible taxis when considering a review of "Transport Access for All", which is the Department's sectoral plan under the Disability Act 2005. The committee questioned whether, in the current economic environment and on practical grounds, it was necessary to provide for the entire fleet of taxis in urban areas to be wheelchair accessible. My Department will engage further with the Commission for Taxi Regulation to identify whether a more cost effective approach to the provision of adequate numbers of wheelchair accessible taxis can be developed.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for his response. When does he envisage these discussions to finish? When does he envisage being able to assist taxi and hackney operators to purchase wheelchair accessible taxis? Does he intend to publish any policy document on this? He has just indicated that there now seems to be a policy change in the area.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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We will shortly be undertaking a review of our sectoral plan. There has been discussion on the progress made and on where we need to go over the next few years. We will be producing that document towards the end of this month. The issue will be discussed then.

I cannot give a timescale for the discussions with the taxi regulator, but I do not think there will be any undue delay. It is a matter that we should try to resolve as quickly as possible, so that we can introduce the scheme quickly.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Is it true that the percentage of wheelchair accessible taxis has dropped below what it was when deregulation occurred? What percentage of taxis are now wheelchair accessible? How much funding does the Minister of State intend to make available for this scheme?

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The number of licensed wheelchair accessible taxis increased from 840 in 2000 to 1,504 in December 2007. A further 216 applications for wheelchair accessible taxis were received by the commission up to the end of September this year. Under Transport 21, the Department has a provision of €14 million in 2008 for funding accessibility improvements. Some of the money for the scheme would come from that. I cannot recall what the total figure for this was, but it is larger than that amount. I do not have the figure here, so I will have to revert to the Deputy.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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A few months ago, the taxi regulator, Ms Kathleen Doyle, told us that the new standards protocol for the taxi industry would operate from January 2009. Is funding being provided for that and will it happen? Given that we now have well over 26,000 taxis, which is substantially more than the greater London area with a population three or four times that of the Republic, does the Minister consider this matter a priority? Is the Minister still opposed to any moratorium or cap on issuing licences, despite recent discussions at the Joint Committee on Transport?

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The issue initially raised in the Deputy's supplementary question is a matter for the taxi regulator. I am not privy to the details of what progress has been made in that regard. I am sure, however, that if she said she would have the standards protocol in place in January, she will do so.

As regards the moratorium, I have followed with interest the discussions at the Joint Committee on Transport concerning taxi regulation. It was made clear at the committee that, given the High Court decision, the law as it stands makes it impossible for any kind of moratorium to be introduced just on the basis of controlling numbers. The report the committee compiled will be examined, however. I am aware of the various legal viewpoints that were put forward in that report, which will be considered in the Department.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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There was agreement in the programme for Government in 2002, and in the Department's sectoral plan, to introduce a pilot subsidy scheme for this area. Will the Minister report to the House on what has happened in that regard?

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The taxi regulator is undertaking an economic review of the impact made on competition and choice by opening up the market. A key issue in considering all aspects must be the economic impact. Ultimately, there must be choice for consumers.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I agree with the Deputy about that. For a long number of years in this House, Deputies on all sides were complaining that it was impossible to get a taxi in Dublin——

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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That is right.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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——and, indeed, in rural areas. The High Court decision reversed that trend. The belief now, particularly among taxi drivers, is that there are too many licences, but the law is as it currently stands. With the introduction of improved standards by the taxi regulator, many of the concerns currently being expressed can be met.

Deputy Stanton referred to the introduction of a pilot scheme. The discussions I mentioned at the outset relate to that matter. There was extensive discussion by the Commission on Taxi Regulation. In the course of the committee's hearings on public transport accessibility, which reviewed the disability plan, a view was expressed that the commitment in the programme for Government to making wheelchair accessible taxis widely available was not deemed to be an absolute necessity. It is on that basis, therefore, that we will talk to the taxi regulator again to see if we can produce some sort of scheme that is not as widespread as originally envisaged.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Roadway access is also important.