David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 295: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the taxi companies used by her Department and State agencies under the aegis of her Department have a minimum percentage of taxis which are accessible for people with disabilities and wheelchair users; the amount expended by her Department and State agencies on taxi hire each year from 2003 to date in 2008 respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7926/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has accounts with a number of taxi companies. I have been informed that approximately 10% of taxis in each company are wheelchair accessible.

The amount spent on taxis by my Department since 2003 is set out in the table below. These figures comprise payments to both the firms with whom my Department has accounts and taxis used by officials in my Department as part of normal work related travel arrangements, both home and abroad.

The use of taxis by agencies under the remit of my Department is an operational matter for the agencies themselves.