Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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248. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will confirm whether 2015 vehicles are to be included under the extension on age limit for vehicles used as taxis, in view of the current global shortages of new vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23011/23]

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.

The NTA introduced new Regulations on 18 November last, 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. The purpose of these Regulations is to amend Regulation 31 (Maximum Permissible Age Requirements) of the Taxi Regulation (Small Public Service Vehicle) Regulations 2015. This amendment is made as an exceptional provision and contingency measure, as a result of current vehicle supply issues. The NTA contacted SPSV licence holders to confirm the new final operation date of their current licensed vehicle.