Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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114. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport ,further to Parliamentary Question No. 175 of 14 May 2024, the way it can be justified that 2014 cabs can remain on the road while 2015 cabs must be retired due to NTA age limits given that all taxi drivers operating during the Covid-19 crisis suffered a similar loss of income; if he will consider extending the age limits of other cabs operating during the pandemic in order to harmonise the compliance with the relevant legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26882/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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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 Consolidated Taxi Regulation Act 2013 and 2016. I have no role in the day-to-day operations of the SPSV industry.

Further to Parliamentary Question No. 175 of 14 May 2024, the position regarding vehicle age limits for SPSVs remains the responsibility of the NTA, with the position on vehicle age limits remaining unchanged.

Regulations made by the NTA in 2010 first established a maximum permissible age of 10 years for new standard taxis and hackneys. The ten-year rule was adopted in recognition of the need to strike a balance between achieving standards that offer the customer confidence, comfort, and safety, and allowing industry members to operate successfully.

The NTA's extension of age limits during Covid-19 was an emergency measure of a temporary nature, taken in recognition of the particular challenges posed by the pandemic and was specifically aimed at ensuring that no operator would be required to change their vehicle while passenger demand remained low, and there was a lack suitable vehicles available for purchase.

The 2022 Regulations amend Regulation 31 (Maximum Permissible Age Requirements) of the Taxi Regulation (Small Public Service Vehicle) Regulations 2015. This amendment was made as an exceptional provision and contingency measure, as a result of vehicle supply issues. The Regulations also provide for a graduated return to the ten-year age limit, with vehicles whose 10-year limit was originally in 2020 or 2021 now extended to 2025; those whose original limit is in 2022 or 2023 now extended to 2026, and those whose original limit will be reached in 2024, extended to 2027.

The NTA does not anticipate introducing any further maximum permissible age extensions.