Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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179. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of new taxi permits that have been issued for Dublin Airport for 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33880/22]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware daa has the statutory responsibility to operate and manage Dublin Airport.

The issue raised is an operational matter for daa, I have therefore forwarded your question to the company for direct reply. If the Deputy does not receive a reply within ten working days, please advise my Private Office.

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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180. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether increased transferability of taxi licences is needed to address the current taxi shortage; if he has considered this as a solution to the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33891/22]

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

The transfer of licences for Small Public Service Vehicles (SPSVs) is, at present, prohibited under section 14(1) of the Taxi Regulation Act, 2013.  In the case of the death of a licence holder, however, Section 15 of the same Act applies special provisions.  In such circumstances, a SPSV licence may continue to be operated by a person who was nominated by the licence holder in advance of his or her death.  The current licensing regime is built on the principle that a licence should have no monetary value or be traded on the open market and should simply indicate a person’s suitability to carry out the role of taxi operator.

The NTA has requested the Advisory Committee on SPSVs to conduct a review of the issue of licence transferability.  It is expected that the Advisory Committee will submit a report and recommendations on this issue to the NTA in late Q3 2022.  Whilst the Committee’s report and any resulting recommendations by the NTA will need to be considered carefully, at this point it is not considered that there are any market or public interest reasons for making large-scale or fundamental changes to the current policy and legislative position.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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181. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of new taxi and hackney licences granted in County Cork for each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; and the total number of licences, taxis and hackneys operating in County Cork by location in tabular form. [33957/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector, including SPSV licensing, is a matter for the independent transport regulator, 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.