David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for Transport his plans for the provision of subsidies to assist accessible taxi licence holders in upgrading their vehicles to comply with new standards which will apply from 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43696/09]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 153: To ask the Minister for Transport if the figure of 6% is correct for the number of taxis in the taxi fleet which are accessible for people with disabilities; the action he will take in order that 100% of taxis in cities will be wheelchair accessible by 2012 as per the commitment in the Programme for Government in 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43697/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 153 together. The regulation of the taxi industry, including measures to improve taxi services for people with disabilities, is, in accordance with the Taxi Regulation Act 2003, a matter for the Commission on Taxi Regulation. I understand from the Commission that the total number of wheelchair accessible cabs has increased from 840 in 2000 to 1,600 at the end of 2008 (or 6% of the total fleet). In the context of the package of reform measures for the taxi industry which it recently announced, the Commission, as part of the measures to improve taxi services for people with disabilities, submitted proposals to my Department to incentivise the upgrading of the wheelchair accessible fleet. These are currently under consideration.