Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

298. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport why taxi drivers legally have to offer card paying facilities, while this method of payment is optional for all other members of the business community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17321/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including arrangements for fares 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 am not involved in the day-to-day operations of the SPSV industry.

As the Deputy may be aware, the NTA introduced regulations in exercise of the powers conferred on it by section 20 and section 48 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 making it compulsory for operators to provide a card payment option.

Since 01 September 2022, all taxi drivers in Ireland must be equipped with a physical device/terminal to accept cashless payments as well as cash. Cashless payments in other SPSVs (e.g. hackneys or limousines) are provided at the discretion of the vehicle's operator. The Regulations do not relate to invoiced accounts held with operators, or to payments within booking service apps subscribed to by passengers.

Cashless Payment includes any such method identified within Article 4 of Directive (EU) 2015/2366 - the revised Payment Services Directive (PSD2).  A physical cashless payment device/terminal enables each driver to, in effect, provide their own in-person, in-taxi payment method for passengers to pay by card.  In general, since the Covid-19 pandemic, the preferred payment by consumers at a point of sale, is by  card.   

I have referred your question to the NTA for attention and direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.