Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 30: To ask the Minister for Transport when regulations on customer service and standards in the taxi industry will be enacted; if he will report on the main aspects of these regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21216/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Commissioner for Taxi Regulation is a fully independent regulator and the regulation of customer service and standards in the taxi industry is a matter for which he is responsible. I do not have any function in this regard.

The Commission for Taxi Regulation was established as an independent body under the Taxi Regulation Act 2003. The principal function of the commission is the development and maintenance of a new regulatory framework for the control and operation of small public service vehicles, including taxis, and their drivers.

The commission has initiated a broad consultative process and a national review to assess the extent and quality of services currently provided by small public service vehicles and examine existing quality and safety regulations in regard to small public service vehicles and their drivers. I understand that the review process has been completed and the commission expects to publish reports of the findings at the end of the month. This will inform the development of a new national code for the regulation of taxis, hackneys and limousines by the commission.