Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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171. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason civilian cars with registration number plates dating from 2010 to 142 remain operational on the road after being granted a Covid-related extension of the NCT, which were given a two-, three- and four-year extensions, but taxis up to a 151 registration plate have not received the same extension; the reason for this; and his views on the matter, given this will affect up to 1,489 taxi drivers in January 2025. [46527/24]

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.

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 Consolidated Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 and 2016 require the NTA to seek to promote the provision and maintenance of quality services by SPSVs and their drivers. The Taxi Regulation (Small Public Service Vehicle) Regulations 2015 continued the age limit for taxis and hackneys as, in general, less than 10 years old, and always of a condition and quality suitable to provide SPSV services.

Wheelchair accessible taxis and wheelchair accessible hackneys can operate up to 15-years old. No maximum age is set for limousines due to the vintage nature of many of these vehicles, and the reduced mileage they do due to their ceremonial and prestigious roles.

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 was in 2022 or 2023 now extended to 2026, and those whose original limit was reached in 2024, extended to 2027.

Regarding the Covid related extension of the National Car Test (NCT) which was granted on 28 March 2020, the operation of the National Car Test Service (NCTS) is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. The Road Traffic (National Car Test) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 provided for a permanent four-month extension to test due dates for certain qualifying vehicles. The extension was automatically applied to vehicles with an NCT certificate in force on 28 March 2020 and those with a first test due falling during the period between 28 March and 31 July 2020. Cars first registered on or after 1st August 2016 were not eligible for the extension.

Given the NTA's responsibility in this area, I have referred your question to the NTA for further information. Please advise my private office if you have not received a response within 10 working days.