Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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434. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the lack of hackney licences being issued in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20432/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including SPSV licensing, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013.

Accordingly, 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.

Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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435. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the difficulties in transferring hackney licence permits from one approved driver to another; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20433/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The transfer of driver and vehicle licences for small public service vehicles, which includes taxi, hackney, and limousine licences, is prohibited under section 14(1) of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. There are no plans to adjust this provision at this time, the rationale being that a licence should indicate a person’s suitability to carry out a function and should not be transferrable to another person or have, by association, a monetary value or be tradeable on the open market or redeemable for a value.

Under the current Regulations the holder of a taxi, hackney, or limousine vehicle licence may rent or lease a licence to another person. Further information on rules for such arrangements can be obtained directly from the National Transport Authority, which is the statutory regulator for the sector.