Written answers

Tuesday, 26 February 2008

Department of Defence

Departmental Transport

9:00 pm

Photo of David StantonDavid Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 396: To ask the Minister for Defence 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. [7930/08]

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The proportion of taxis accessible by persons with disabilities is a matter for the Taxi Regulator. I can confirm that the taxi company which serves the requirements of my Department is recommended on the website of the National Disability Authority. If a taxi is required by a person with a disability from my Department, this would be stated at the time that the booking is made. The amounts expended by my Department and the Defence Forces on taxi hire are set out in the following table.

200320042005200620072008 (to date)
â'¬â'¬â'¬â'¬â'¬â'¬
Taxi Accounts17,850.8418,082.7716,719.7117,525.9022,285.824,049.08
Cost of taxis included in Travel & Subsistence Claims*Not available electronically*Not available electronically*Not available electronically25,362.9543,712.20774.95
Total17,850.8418,082.7716,719.7142,888.8565,998.024,824.03
*The Financial Management System (FMS), which was used from 1999 to 31/12/2005, did not have the facility to record taxi costs separately. Therefore, details of taxi fare costs for 2003, 2004 and 2005 are not available electronically. Access to this information (2003 to 2005) can only be gained by manually inspecting up to 150,000 T&S claims. The time and manpower involved in such a project would be very time-consuming and it would be difficult to justify the use of manpower.

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