Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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130. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the supports that are available to taxi operators for the provision of wheelchair-accessible taxis; the funding provided in the Budget to support the provision of wheelchair accessible taxis in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; and the number of wheelchair accessible taxis in operation in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [36193/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA), under the provisions of the Consolidated Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 and 2016. I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of the SPSV industry.

My Department is committed to making public transport accessible for all and has introduced a number of initiatives to support this. In order to increase the wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) penetration of the SPSV fleet nationwide (taxis, hackneys, and limousines), the NTA introduced S.I. No. 250 of 2010 (Taxi Regulation Act 2003 (Grant of Taxi Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 2010) in June 2010, to only issue new taxi and hackney licences for wheelchair accessible taxis and hackneys.

This S.I. has been supported by wheelchair accessible vehicle grants to provide financial support towards the acquisition or conversion of suitable vehicles to operate as WAVs in the SPSV fleet. Under this Scheme, drivers can avail of up to €17,500 in grant funding. The Scheme is administered by the NTA.

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

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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131. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of demerits under part 5 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 that were issued, for each of the past ten years. [36205/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector, including the collection of statistics regarding demerits, 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 sector.

Noting the NTA's responsibilities in the matter, I have referred your question to the NTA for attention. If you do not receive a reply within 10 working days, please contact my private office.