Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 230: To ask the Minister for Finance the steps he has taken to address the issues which are delaying the introduction of the nine year rule for wheelchair accessible taxis; and when will he make a decision regarding the submission on the nine year rule and the possibility that without such a subsidy that the percentage of wheelchair accessible taxis in the fleet could in fact substantially reduce from the 6% presently in operation [39431/10]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 231: To ask the Minister for Finance to discuss with the Minister for Transport the introduction in the forthcoming budget of a zero cost or gain to exchequer proposal whereby vehicles bought for use in the taxi industry are exempted from VRT, with a claw back facility which would prevent vehicles being sold within nine years without paying a reducing percentage of the due VRT, thus helping the many taxi drivers who will over the next few years need to buy replacement vehicles due to the nine year rule, but who will buy a second-hand car due to the financial hardship of most taxi drivers, thus not delivering the upgrading of the fleet which that nine year rule had intended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39437/10]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 232: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has received a submission in relation to VRT and taxis from the Commission for Taxi Regulation or the Minister for Transport; when and the reasons it was rejected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39438/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Question Nos. 230 to 232, inclusive, together.

I have not received any recent submission in relation to VRT and taxis from the Commission for Taxi Regulation or the Minister for Transport. However, my Department did receive correspondence in relation to wheelchair accessible taxis in November, 2009, and it is this correspondence to which I assume the Deputy refers. I have no plans to reduce or eliminate VRT on taxis, including wheelchair accessible taxis.

In relation to wheelchair accessible taxis the Taxi Regulator, through its parent Department, has been advised that if it considers that some form of State assistance is required to facilitate taxi drivers purchasing wheel chair accessible taxis, it may wish to put forward for consideration an expenditure based scheme, financed from within its existing financial allocation and operated by that Department or possibly the Taxi Regulator.