Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when it is expected to be announced the recommendations of theTaxi Regulation Review Report that will be implemented and the level of engagement that has taken place with taxi operators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57554/12]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The Taxi Regulation Review report was published by the Government in January of this year.  It contains 46 actions targeting at improving the regulation and operation of the small public service vehicle industry.  

Responsibility for implementation of the majority of the recommendations of that report rests with the National Transport Authority (NTA) which is the body responsible for regulating the small public service vehicle industry.  

I understand from the NTA that they have implemented ten of the actions in full and that a considerable number of other actions are scheduled to come into operation in January of 2013.  The NTA have informed me that new regulations have been adopted by the Board of the NTA which will introduce new measures relating to taxi door signage, vehicle age limits, rental controls and notification requirements for drivers of the vehicles that they are operating, during January 2013.  

There was significant engagement with the taxi industry during the Taxi Regulation Review, including a public consultation process involving an opportunity for written submissions and for oral presentations from key stakeholder groups. There were also four representatives from the taxi sector on the review group and the Minister met many taxi groups in advance of the review process.  

Since the publication of the Taxi Regulation Review Report, I understand that the NTA has engaged extensively with the Advisory Committee on Small Public Service Vehicles (the “Advisory Committee”) and the sub-group of that committee comprising of industry representative members.   The NTA has informed me that the various proposals that are intended to be introduced in January 2013 were the subject of consultation with the Advisory Committee.