Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Over the course of the COVID-19 crisis, my Department has been working closely with the National Transport Authority (NTA) to ensure public transport services continue and to plan for the provision of enhanced public transport services in line with the Government Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business. In this context, the NTA is engaging directly with both PSO and commercial transport operators.

With the commencement of Phase 3 of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business on 29 June 2020, changes to the existing public transport social distancing restrictions were agreed, allowing a move from 2 metres social distancing to utilising 50% of the passenger-carrying capacity of fleet. I understand that moving to 50% capacity utilisation means that 52/53 seater coaches can now carry approximately 24 passengers, up from 12 passengers which could be carried with 2 metre social distancing. This will help to underpin public transport services during these unprecedented times, with a view to safeguarding public transport capacity in Phases 3 and 4 of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business . Alongside this change, the wearing of a face covering when using public transport is now being made mandatory, with the exception of those who cannot do so for health reasons or due to young age. The legal framework to back up the mandatory use of face coverings on public transport is currently being prepared and we expect to have new Health Regulations in the coming days.

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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96. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if taxi and hackney drivers and their passengers will be required to wear masks as part as the latest plan to make masks compulsory on public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13951/20]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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103. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if it is mandatory to wear a face covering in a taxi; the requirements and supports in place for drivers and passengers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14043/20]

Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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112. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if guidelines will be provided for taxi operators regarding which they are to adhere to in view of the fact they have not received any; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14186/20]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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124. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if face masks and face coverings will be mandatory in taxis and private operator vehicles such as limousines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14312/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 96, 103, 112 and 124 together.

Following the commencement of Phase 3 of the Government's Roadmap for Reopening Society and Businesson 29 June 2020, the public health advice recommends that individuals to wear a face covering in retail settings, on public transport, and in situations where it is not possible to achieve the recommended social distancing of 2 metres. Deputies will be familiar with the extensive public information campaign currently underway to advise the public about the use of face coverings for the benefit of themselves and those around them.

Given the size of most taxis and other small public service vehicles (SPSVs), public health advice indicates that people travelling in such vehicles should wear face coverings. Guidance on the safe use of face coverings is available on the gov.ie website. Under existing regulatory provisions for the SPSV sector, drivers already have the right to refuse carriage to a passenger who does not comply with a "reasonable request" which, in the present circumstances, would include a request to wear a face covering.

Deputies will be aware that it has recently been decided to make the wearing of face coverings on public transport a legal requirement. Work on this is very advanced and we expect to have new Health Regulations in the coming days to cover mass transit situations. My Department is also working with the National Transport Authority (NTA) in relation to an appropriate approach for the SPSV sector.

In the meantime, compliance by passengers with the public health advice in relation to face coverings is being carefully monitored and, given the current situation and the public health advice, I would strongly encourage all drivers and passengers to wear a face covering while in an SPSV.

In addition to face covering, vehicle cleaning is also important, and guidance on this has been available to the SPSV industry and on the NTA website for the last number of months.