David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 447: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in regard to compliance by taxis with the European Communities (Road Vehicles; Type Approval) Regulations 2009 (S.I. No. 158 of 2009 which gives effect to EU Directive 2007/46/EC and includes a reference to EU Directive 76/115/EEC), if he has considered allowing for any derogations for wheelchair accessible vehicles purchased prior to April 2009 which are required to be compliant by 29 April 2012 given the need for more wheelchair accessible vehicles in the taxi fleet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6899/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The regulation of the taxi industry is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the Public Taxi Regulation Act 2003, as amended. Among the principal functions of the NTA, as provided for under section 9 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003, is the promotion of access to small public service vehicles by persons with disabilities. In 2007, the former Commission for Taxi Regulation (whose functions have been incorporated into the NTA) published accessible standards for taxis and hackneys, which took into consideration the implementation of type approval under the European Communities Directive 2007/46/EC. I understand that the National Transport Authority will be commencing a further vehicle standards consultation process this year which will include the accessible vehicle requirements for taxis and hackneys into the future.