Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

As we are on the Final Stages of the Bill, I will not be introducing further amendments but I will show some latitude, even at this late stage, to address Senators' concerns. I, too, have concerns about the cost of entry in respect of wheelchair accessible taxis but I am addressing that issue separately. The legislation makes provision to help me in that regard but the issue of specifications must be addressed because vehicles are too costly. I am also considering other measures that can allow a package to be put together to reduce the cost of entry to a fraction of the figure set out by Senator Barrett. Ultimately, however, we need to facilitate a significant increase in the number of wheelchair accessible taxis. It is unacceptable that we do not have enough wheelchair accessible taxis. I recently appointed a young man with special requirements for wheelchair taxis to the wheelchair taxi advisory group. He is a fascinating and excellent young man and, along with other groups, he was a strong motivator in persuading me to address this issue. I assure the Senator that the issue is being addressed separately from a regulatory point of view. We are investigating measures to deal with the current high costs which, as he rightly points out, constitute a barrier to entry.

In regard to enforcement, this Bill provides significantly greater powers of enforcement to the Garda and others. Vehicles can be inspected thoroughly in different locations and authorised persons will be able to work closely with the Garda in a number of areas. It also makes provision for increasing the number of enforcement officers, which will ensure the regulations in the Bill are enforced. I am determined to ensure that the regulations are enforced subsequent to this Bill being enacted.