David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 278: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the taxi companies used by his Department and State agencies under the aegis of his Department have a minimum percentage of taxis which are accessible for people with disabilities and wheelchair users; the amount expended by his Department and State agencies on taxi hire each year from 2003 to date in 2008 respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7929/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has an account with a taxi company based in Dublin and expenditure on taxis outside of Dublin is processed on an individual basis through travel and subsistence claims. The percentage of taxis that are accessible for people with disabilities is a matter for the Commission for Taxi Regulation. One of the specific objectives given to the Commission in the 2003 Taxi Regulation Act, is to promote access to small public service vehicles by people with disabilities.

The amounts spent by my Department on taxis from 2004 to 2008 are detailed in the table below. My Department is currently arranging for details of amounts spent by my Department in 2003 and by the bodies that come within the ambit of the Department from 2003-2008 to be collated and these will be forwarded to the Deputy, as soon as they are available.