Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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202. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he plans to amend the law to allow taxi drivers have licensed taxi vehicles that are up to 12 years old in view of the financial difficulties caused by the Covid-19 crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35756/21]

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

At the start of the pandemic, the NTA, the independent statutory regulator for the SPSV sector, immediately extended age limits for taxis and hackneys and has since done so twice more. The most recent extension, made last month, ensures no vehicle will be forced to exit the fleet due to age limits in 2021. I trust that the Authority will keep this issue under review as society and the economy reopens and passenger demand returns.