Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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155. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding taxi drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58483/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including vehicle age limits for SPSVs, is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA), under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 and 2016. I have no role in the day-to-day operations of the SPSV industry.

Since August, a series of global circumstances has, in the NTA’s view, considerably worsened the capability of taxi and hackney licence holders to secure new vehicles, with lead times of one year not uncommon already. Therefore, the NTA proposed to temporarily extend the maximum permissible age for taxis and hackneys so that no current vehicle licence holder is forced out of the industry because a replacement vehicle cannot be purchased.

I have been informed that, on 18 November last, the NTA Board approved Regulations permitting an extension to the final operation date of vehicles due to reach their final date of operation/maximum permissible age between 13 March 2020 and 31 December 2024. SPSV licence holders will receive communications from the NTA in the coming weeks, confirming the new final operation date of their current licensed vehicle.