Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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637. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the penalties and fines which were imposed in the past five cases whereby a person has been convicted of illegally operating a taxi; his views on whether the penalties in operation are a sufficient deterrent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9794/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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Under the Taxi Regulation 2013 Act, a person who is operating a taxi without a valid SPSV driver licence and/or SPSV vehicle licence is committing an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a class A fine, with detailed provisions set out in Section 28 of that Act.  A member of An Garda Síochána may arrest without warrant a person who in their opinion is committing or has committed such an offence.  The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry is primarily a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the 2013 Act.  My Department engages regularly with NTA to review and consider the appropriateness of arrangements, and I am not aware of any immediate proposals for change in relation to fines.

Given the NTA's role in taxi regulation, I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.