Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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593. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to include in the forthcoming road traffic Bill a provision to amend earlier legislation, by including an appeal process for taxi workers, who inadvertently missed the deadline for renewing their public service vehicle licences, in view of the fact that existing legislation does not permit such an appeal to a decision of the National Transport Authority on such a matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17445/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry is the responsibility of the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013.

  Section 13 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013, which came into operation in April of last year, provides for an appeal process in cases where the NTA refuses to grant a licence. These appeal provisions, insofar as they relate to the refusal of the grant (including renewal) of a licence, apply only where the refusal relates to an application that is validly made in accordance with the Act and regulations made thereunder.

Regulations made under the Act by the National Transport Authority (NTA) provide, in effect, that a licence lapses unless an application is made to replace the licence within a period of twelve months following its expiry, after which its replacement is no longer possible. Where a licence has expired a valid application can no longer be made and the appeal procedures under the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 do not apply.

I should add that the legal provisions relating to the lapsing of SPSV licences implement the recommendation of the Taxi Regulation Review Group "to reduce the period during which an "inactive" SPSV licence can be reactivated from the current five years to one year." No changes to this provision are proposed in any legislation currently in preparation.