Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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356. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the case being taken by taxi drivers regarding the deregulation of the taxi industry a number of years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2017/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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A large number of individual claims have been made to the High Court arising from an October 2000 High Court judgement and the subsequent regulations that provided for the liberalisation of access to taxi licences, and the manner in which the taxi industry was regulated from 1963. The cases proceeded on the basis of a number of test cases and the High Court hearing took place between 29 October and 18 December 2013 with judgement reserved. The decision of the Court is awaited.

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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357. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on media reports regarding his plan to stop taxi drivers advertising on taxi cars and vans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2018/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The regulation of the taxi industry is the responsibility of the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009.

The Taxi Regulation Act, 2013 was signed into law on the 23rd of October 2013 and while the majority of the provisions in the Act have yet to come into operation, the NTA has prepared draft regulations that will consolidate and replace the existing regulations, in addition to some new regulations. The draft regulations, including provisions relating to the prohibition on advertising on small public service vehicles (SPSVs) from 2015, are the subject of a public consultation that will conclude on the 31st of January 2014.

I have referred your Question to the NTA for direct response. If you do not receive a reply within 10 working days please contact my private office.