Marie Sherlock (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. He indicated that the Minister for Transport is responsible for policy. However, the Minister is washing his hands of the matter and presiding over a situation whereby there will be fewer taxis across the country this year. I do not believe he can have it both ways. Previous responses from the Minister referred to initiating recruitment campaigns with the NTA. Yet, when it comes to the actual number of taxis, there is a retreat from or an abdication of responsibility.

It makes no sense that a wheelchair taxi is allowed to operate for 15 years but a standard taxi is only allowed to operate for ten. What is not clear from the figures the Minister of State provided is the breakdown between vintage, wheelchair and standard taxis. They are the figures to which I referred. My understanding is that there has been a decline in the number of standard taxis compared with the situation pre-pandemic.

The Minister of State's response was extremely disappointing. It represents a failure on the part of the Department to take responsibility for what is needed, namely an increase in taxi numbers. I do not believe the NTA should be left to deal with regulation. The point of the Oireachtas is to influence policy in State agencies. Right now, I do not believe it is good enough that more than 1,000 taxis will be retired next year simply because of their age and for reasons that have nothing to do with the condition they are in. At at time when we are all supposed to be much more environmentally conscious, it makes no sense to have such a blunt cut-off point when it comes to the taxi industry.