Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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319. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the average and maximum waiting times for the issuing of licenses with regard to large public service vehicles by the Carriage Office; if there is an independent right of appeal on their determination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32736/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I hope the Deputy will appreciate that the legislation governing large public service vehicles (LPSV) is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. I am informed by his Department that Regulation 14 of the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles)(Licensing) Regulations, 1978 (S.I. No. 292 of 1978) provides that the owner of a vehicle may appeal against a refusal, revocation or suspension of a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licence. Where the refusal or revocation is made on the grounds that the owner of the vehicle is not a fit and proper person to hold a licence, an appeal must be made to the District Court. In all other cases of refusal or revocation or where a licence has been suspended, Regulation 14 provides that appeals must be made to the Minister for the Environment. As this function transferred to the Minister for Transport in 2002 under the Road Traffic Acts, appeals of this nature can now be made to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

Insofar as waiting times are concerned, I am advised by the Garda authorities that the Carriage Department (under the remit of the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) Traffic Section, directed by Assistant Commissioner, DMR) performs the function of licensing LPSV for the DMR and that the licensing authority for LPSV outside the DMR is the Divisional Officer for the Division where the vehicle is to be registered. I am further advised that as of 7 July 2017 the current waiting time for an inspection of a LPSV stands at approximately six weeks. Once the LPSV has been deemed suitable for licensing, the applicant must complete all necessary documentation in support of the application. The processing of this documentation currently stands at approximately 2 weeks.

However, delays will be experienced if the vehicle is deemed unsuitable for licensing or if there are concerns in respect of the suitability of the applicant to hold a LPSV. In relation to the vehicle, all defects must be remedied before the vehicle can be deemed suitable. All checks in respect of the licence-holder must have been completed before a licence will issue, which may include an interview with the Authorised Officer.