244. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if any research has been done to ascertain the number of wheelchair accessible vehicles required in the taxi industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12307/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The regulation of the taxi industry is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the Public Transport Regulation Act, 2009. The NTA is the lead agency with responsibility for implementation of the recommendations of the Taxi Regulation Review Report 2011. The Taxi Regulation Review made a number of recommendations aimed at addressing the lack of availability of wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) to meet the transport requirements of people with a disability and reduced mobility. In particular, Action 20 recommended a review of existing specifications for WAVs to establish whether an adjustment to the current WAV standards would assist in increasing the supply and availability of WAVs.

The Taxi Regulation Act 2013 was signed into law on 23rd of October 2013 and while most of the provisions of the Act have yet to be commenced, the NTA has prepared draft regulations under the Act that will introduce some new measures, as well as consolidating and replacing the existing regulations. The draft regulations, including provisions relating to vehicle standards for WAVs aimed at introducing a wider range of lower cost vehicles thereby assisting in supply and availability, were the subject of a public consultation process that concluded on 31st January 2014.

It is expected that the new regulations will be introduced in tandem with the commencement of the Act in April 2014. I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.