Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 430: To ask the Minister for Transport the penalties that exist for taxi drivers who drive with a wheelchair accessible taxi licence but who do not carry the necessary equipment to make the vehicle fully accessible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37927/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations 1998 (S.I. No 47 of 1998) set out the requirements for wheelchair accessible taxi vehicles. In particular the regulations require that a wheelchair accessible taxi vehicle be provided at all times with a ramp or other mechanism to permit the safe entry and egress of a passenger seated in a wheelchair.

The enforcement of the public service vehicle regulations is a matter for An Garda Síochána. The penalties for offences under these regulations, which were originally established under section 102 of the Road Traffic Act 1961, are now set out in section 18 of the Road Traffic Act 2006. Where a person is guilty of an offence, the person is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €1,000 in the case of a first offence and a fine not exceeding €2,000 in the case of a second, third or subsequent offence. In the case of a third or subsequent offence in any period of twelve consecutive months, the penalty is a fine not exceeding €2,000 or, at the discretion of the court, a term of imprisonment for any term not exceeding 3 months or to both a fine and term of imprisonment.