Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position in regarding the facilitation of local area hackney licences; when he anticipates that this scheme will be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55060/12]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The regulation of the taxi industry is a matter in the first instance for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the Taxi Regulation Act, 2003. The NTA is the lead agency with responsibility for implementation of the recommendations of the Taxi Regulation Review Report 2011, including implementation of Action 46 of the Report, which proposes a local area hackney licence.

The aim of the proposed local area hackney licence is to facilitate the low cost entry to the hackney market for transport provision in rural areas that, otherwise, would be unlikely to have such services. This proposal was  identified in the Review Report as a medium-term measure, whereby due to the nature, complexity or other requirements of the proposal, implementation would not be possible in 2012. I understand that the NTA is considering the best approach to this issue.