Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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Question 15: To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport his views on providing public house owners in isolated rural areas with taxi licences; and his plans in relation to same. [26575/11]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 35: To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport when the findings of the Taxi Review Group will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26566/11]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 43: To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport his views on whether it is fair and equitable that, based on an arbitratory criteria, that is, taxi licence number, that some licence holders are not allowed to drive a taxi that is more than nine years old notwithstanding the fact that it can pass all of the relevant road safety tests; regardless of the review underway into the taxi business, if he will immediately end this arbitratory practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26432/11]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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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

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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I am glad to hear we will have some information from the taxi review group in November. This is an important issue in terms of rural communities and how they operate and I will attend the Oireachtas committee to hear what is said. I hope the Minister will give specific consideration to the issue of the problem in country areas. I am aware there are significant problems with regard to taxi regulation and I have made a submission to the review group which I hope the Minister will take on board.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I thank the Deputy for his comments. There are specific issues with regard to rural Ireland. The issues that relate to the taxi and hackney industry in Dublin, Cork, Limerick or Waterford do not relate to the area from which I come, where there are no taxis. This issue is completely different. It is about creating a service that will work in both urban and rural areas and in order to do that we must look at the whole licensing process. We are doing that.