Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 603: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he will be in a position to roll out the rural transport programme which will involve the registration of local hackney drivers who will service designated rural areas; where and when such applicants may apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12775/12]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The local area hackney licence is one of a range of actions proposed in the Taxi Regulation Review Report, which was approved by Government and published in January. This proposal aims to facilitate low cost entry to the hackney market for transport provision in rural areas that, otherwise, would be unlikely to have such services. The local area hackney licence was proposed as a medium-term measure, one which requires further development this year with a view to implementation subsequent to 2012.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the regulation of the taxi industry under the Taxi Regulation Act, 2003 and is also the lead agency with responsibility for implementation of the recommendations of the Taxi Regulation Review Report. The NTA has commenced the scoping work required for the further development of the proposal for a local area hackney licence.