Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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Question 238: To ask the Minister for Transport when he was last briefed by the Commission on Taxi Regulation and the National Transport Authority on current market conditions and proposed new regulations for the taxi industry; if he has made any recent policy proposals to the Commission on Taxi Regulation in respect of the ongoing deteriorating conditions for the taxi workforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47723/10]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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Question 239: To ask the Minister for Transport when the Commission on Taxi Regulation will be incorporated into the National Transport Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47722/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 239 together. The Public Transport Regulation Act, 2009, provides for the transfer of functions and staff of the Commission for Taxi Regulation (CTR) to the National Transport Authority (NTA) upon the making of an Order by me. I will shortly make the Order to give effect to the transfer effective from 1 January 2011.

On transfer of functions, the NTA will continue the independent regulatory role of the former CTR and I will, as currently, have no role in the regulation of the taxi sector.

The CTR has published a Strategy Statement for 2010-2014 which sets out the key objectives for the developing the regulatory framework for the taxi sector. In addition the CTR published an Action Plan for 2010-2011 that set outs measurable targets through which the Strategy Statement objectives could be achieved.

Taking account of its statutory independence and its reporting requirements, my officials have regular contact with the Commission for Taxi Regulation on corporate governance issues and general policy relating to the taxi sector. However I have no plans at this time to change the current independent regulation of the sector as provided for in legislation. When the NTA takes on the taxi regulation function it will be open to individuals or taxi representatives to present views to the NTA about their concerns about the taxi sector and the NTA will have the opportunity to consider those views under the terms of its independent statutory mandate.