Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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245. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has introduced, as committed to in the programme for Government, a provision whereby taxi companies that wish to bid for State procurement contracts must ensure that a minimum of 10% of their fleet is wheelchair accessible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36500/17]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The National Transport Authority (NTA) figures released in ‘Statistical Bulletin Number: 01/ 2017 April 2017’ show that 6% of the national taxi fleet is now wheelchair accessible, up from 4.2% in 2013.

Based on consultations with the market prior to establishing a framework contract for the provision of taxi services in the Greater Dublin Area in April 2015, the market response was that there are no large unitary fleet operators who can easily be compelled to meet a requirement to ensure that a minimum of 10% of their fleet is wheelchair accessible. The market operates on the basis of loose arrangements between Dispatch Operators and individual vehicle owners. Dispatch Operators have previously made it clear to the OGP that they are not in a position to force individual drivers to purchase accessible vehicles.

The National Transport Authority has put in place measures, including grants towards the purchase of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles funded by the Exchequer, to increase the numbers of wheelchair accessible vehicles in the national taxi fleet.

The OGP continues to monitor the taxi market and will impose market appropriate wheelchair accessibility thresholds when re-tendering for taxi contracts for which it is the Contracting Authority.