Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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221. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on a case (details supplied). [21717/14]

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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222. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in the case of personal hardship where a person was unaware of the closing date for transfer of licence until April of this year and has experienced an accident and severe financial pressure and is therefore not in a position to renew their licence, if that person would be given a derogation to allow them to sell the licence in a situation where they have a buyer lined up. [21731/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 221 and 222 together.

Action 14 of the Taxi Regulation Review Report, 2011, recommended the prohibition on the transferability of small public service vehicle (SPSV) licences with effect from 1st October 2012. The Report's recommendations were widely published to the industry, including through the National Transport Authority's and industry updates as well as on the various taxi forum websites.

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 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.

The measure was therefore 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 were allowed to take place.

It is not open to me to provide for a derogation from the requirements of primary legislation.

In regard to the particular case raised by Deputy McGrath, I am advised that the NTA has been in contact with the person concerned and the process of completing the transfer of a taxi licence to her is expected to be concluded shortly.