Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 723: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on the Taxi Regulator's proposed prohibition on taxi and hackney owners in relation to the conversion of their existing vehicles to wheelchair accessible use and the consequent additional expense that will be incurred by the owners in the purchase of custom-built wheelchair accessible taxis and hackneys; the way he proposes to address the issue of monitoring the prioritisation of bookings for people with disabilities in wheelchair accessible vehicles in view of the favourable taxi licence level of €125 for such vehicles as against €6,300 for standard licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29667/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am informed that the Commission for Taxi Regulation published new National Vehicle Standards — Requirements for Small Public Service Vehicles in November 2007, which include new accessible vehicle standards for licensing as wheelchair accessible taxis and wheelchair accessible hackneys. The Commission is proposing that transitional periods will apply to the new standards in the interest of business planning for service providers. The new vehicle standards will be given a statutory basis through revised regulations to be made by the Commission for Taxi Regulation under the Taxi Regulation Act 2003.

It is envisaged that the new requirements for wheelchair accessible taxis and wheelchair accessible hackneys will apply to existing vehicle licences from 2012. It is a requirement on the holders of wheelchair accessible small public service vehicle licences to register their contact details with the Commission and to keep records relating to bookings. New regulations have also been made in relation to the licensing of dispatch operators which will come into operation on 1 September 2009.

Separately, my Department has been in discussion with the Commission in relation to a possible arrangement to assist taxi and hackney operators with the purchase of wheelchair accessible vehicles that will meet the new accessible vehicle specification developed by the Commission. A final decision will be made on this matter as soon as possible having regard to the overall budgetary context.