Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 270: To ask the Minister for Transport his plans to empower the Taxi Regulator or other bodies, to regulate issues such as noise pollution caused by taxis in ranks. [28355/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The regulation of taxi ranks, including their location, is a matter for the relevant local authority in conjunction with the Gardaí.

The general position in regard to vehicle engine noise is that vehicle in-service standards are specified in the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicle) Regulations 1963, which requires vehicle to be fitted with a silencer or other device to reduce to a reasonable level the noise caused by the escape of exhaust gases from the engine. Article 85 of these Regulations prohibits the use in a public place of a vehicle which causes excessive noise.

In addition, it is understood from the Road Safety Authority that it is the intention under the next national car testing contract that there will be checks on vehicles in relation to noisy exhaust systems.