Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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138. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the request of taxi drivers to give a two-year extension on the ten year rule for public service vehicles that are currently licensed in view of the financial impact on their industry as a result of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14563/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including age limits for SPSVs and regulatory measures in response to the present COVID-19 pandemic, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013.

Given the role of the NTA as regulator, I have referred your question to the Authority for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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139. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the request of taxi representative groups for an immediate review of the sustainability of the industry, taxi numbers and the likely supply and demand issues over the coming period in view of the Covid-19 crisis; if he will consider a moratorium on the issuing of further PSV licences until the review is completed and the industry has recovered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14565/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I recognise that since the onset of the present COVID-19 pandemic and the introduction of restrictions as part of the necessary public health response, passenger demand for taxis and other small public service vehicle (SPSV) services have fallen considerably and many operators stopped working temporarily.

Over the past few months, the National Transport Authority (NTA), which is the body under the aegis of my Department with responsibility for regulating the SPSV sector, has undertaken a number of measures to assist operators in the industry including waivers, facilitating temporary licence suspensions, interaction with the Insurance industry, and providing guidance to operators on cleaning and other ways to reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19.

The focus now is on assisting those who have stopped working to get back to work as the economy reopens and passenger demand for SPSVs returns. My Department is in regular contact with the NTA to monitor the progress of the Government's Roadmap to Reopening Society and Business and the impact this is having on demand for SPSV services with a view to ensuring that those SPSV operators who temporarily stopped working are well placed to return to work.

I understand that the Advisory Committee on SPSVs (commonly known as the Taxi Advisory Committee) is looking at the sector's situation as it faces into the coming months, and I expect to receive their report when this has been completed.

Given that the process of reopening the economy is ongoing and the present pandemic is continuing, I believe it would be premature to undertake a longer term review of the industry at the present time. However, I agree that there will be a need to undertake a review of the industry in the near future, noting among other things any lasting impact arising from COVID-19.

On the specific question of a moratorium on the issuance of SPSV licences, it is not intended to introduce such a measure.