Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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693. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will advise on the matter in relation to the transfer of taxi plates (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17502/14]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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708. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for the lack of notice of the deadline for the transfer of taxi plates (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18059/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 693 and 708 together.

Action 14 of the Taxi Regulation Review Report, 2011 recommended the prohibition on the transfer of a small public service vehicle (SPSV) vehicle licence with effect from 1st October 2012. The underlying principle for the recommendation was that a licence should determine a person's suitability to carry out a function and it should have no monetary value or be traded on the open market. The Taxi Regulation Review Group included representatives of the taxi industry and its recommendations were widely publicised to the industry, including through the National Transport Authority's website and industry updates. It was intended that the measure would be introduced with effect from 1st January 2013 by way of regulations to be made by the National Transport Authority (NTA)  who have responsibility for the regulation of the taxi sector. However, it was concluded that it would be more appropriate to include such a provision in primary legislation as part of the Taxi Regulation Bill 2012 which was enacted as the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 on 23rd October 2013.

The provision is included in Section 14(1) of the Taxi Regulation Act, 2013 which was commenced with effect from the 6th April 2014. Consequently the industry has had an 18 month period longer than envisaged under the Taxi Regulation Review Report under which transfers have been allowed to take place. Noting the above 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.