Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 78: To ask the Minister for Transport when he will respond to the Commission on Taxi Regulations submission on long-standing proposals to take over responsibility for the issuing of small public service vehicle driver licences from An Garda Sióchána; if he will confirm, if a ban on the recruitment of new staff is the reason this reform of the taxi licensing system has been delayed indefinitely; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21273/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The proposal to transfer the function of small public service vehicle driver licensing from An Garda Sióchána to the Commission for Taxi Regulation will require additional staffing levels in the Commission.

It is not envisaged that this proposal will be delayed indefinitely. However, in light of the current moratorium on recruitment in the Public Service, the proposal will need to be reviewed with a view to identifying if alternative arrangements can be made.