Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 328: To ask the Minister for Transport the reason people who have had a public service vehicle licence for many years should now have to sit a new driving test and pay a fee of €250 for the licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22375/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The regulation of the taxi industry, including the setting of small public service vehicle driver licence fees, is a matter for the Commission for Taxi Regulation under the Taxi Regulation Act, 2003. Among the improvements to the quality of service provision being implemented by the Commission is the new skills development programme for new drivers from this year and for existing drivers from 2012.

The recent representation made by the Taxi Union Representative Bodies to my Department has outlined concerns within the industry regarding this provision as it applies to existing drivers. These representative Bodies will, I understand, be pursuing these concerns within the consultative and advisory framework provided for under the Taxi Regulation Act, 2003.