James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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82. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for the 10-year taxi system (details supplied); if additional supports will be given to the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29930/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector, including age limits for vehicles, is a matter for the statutory regulator, 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 the portion of your question regarding age limits to the Authority for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.

In relation to the issue of supports for the taxi industry the Government has introduced a wide-ranging programme of supports with broad eligibility criteria for individuals and businesses which have been adversely affected by COVID-19. Many of these supports can be accessed by self-employed taxi drivers including liquidity and investment measures from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, as well as the Enterprise Support Grant and the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) from the Department of Social Protection. 

Following on from my meeting with the Advisory Committee on SPSVs in April, I have asked officials in my Department to review existing measures taken by my Department, such as the waiver of vehicle licence renewal fees for 2021 and this year's enhanced eSPSV grant scheme, and identify whether any further measures can be taken to support the industry as we prepare for the forthcoming reopening of society.