Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 263: To ask the Minister for Transport the progress made to date with regard to targets for wheelchair accessible taxis; and if he will indicate if and when the Commission for Taxi Regulation will provide a direct subsidy to assist drivers with the purchase of and running of wheelchair accessible taxis. [34966/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Statistical information requested by the Deputy is available from the Commission for Taxi Regulation directly. As part of the Commission for Taxi Regulation's (CTR) continuing reforms for the small public service vehicle industry one of the key objectives for 2010 to 2011 is to improve accessibility of taxis and hackneys. The CTR has introduced a new category of wheelchair accessible hackney and new vehicle standards for both wheelchair accessible taxis and wheelchair accessible hackneys have been introduced for new licence applicants from the 8th June 2010. All existing wheelchair accessible taxis will be required to meet the new standards on renewal of their licence in 2012.

The CTR favours the provision of some financial assistance to wheelchair accessible licence holders to upgrade their vehicles by 2012. I have referred the CTR proposal to the National Transport Authority (NTA) for its consideration and decision as financial assistance will be a matter for the NTA following the incorporation of the CTR into the NTA.