Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 285: To ask the Minister for Transport if it is within the power of the Taxi Regulator or of the State to impose a numerical cap on the number of taxi drivers operating in a particular district; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38316/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Taxi Regulation Act 2003, the Commission for Taxi Regulation is now the independent public body responsible for the development and maintenance of the regulatory framework for the control and operation, including licensing, of taxis, hackneys, limousines and their drivers.

A High Court judgment in October 2000 led to taxi liberalisation and created the legal position that a limitation of taxi licences in the interests of existing licence holders could not be sustained.

Regulations made in November 2000 responded to the new legal situation established by reference to the decision of the High Court. Subsequently, the Taxi Regulation Act 2003, which provides the legislative basis for the licensing and operation of small public service vehicles generally, does not provide a basis for the application of quantitative controls on the issue of licences for any such vehicles. The Commission for Taxi Regulation does not, therefore, have any remit or statutory power under the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 in relation to the control of the number of licences issued. The Deputy may wish to note that, since September 2006, there is one single national taximeter area for the entire country.