Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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233. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason that when a taxi licence lapses for more than two years, the only licence available is the substantially costlier wheelchair accessible licence; if consideration has been given to temporarily suspending the rule (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9062/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including SPSV licensing, 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 have no role in the day-to-day operations of the SPSV sector.

In June 2010, the NTA introduced S.I. No. 250 of 2010 - Taxi Regulation Act 2003 (Grant of Taxi Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 to only issue new taxi and hackney licences for wheelchair accessible taxis and hackneys. This was introduced in order to increase the number of wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) in the SPSV fleet nationwide (taxis, hackneys, and limousines). This measure has increased the WAV penetration in the SPSV fleet from 4% in 2014 to 20.5% at the end of January 2025. Furthermore, Action 50 of the National Sustainable Mobility Policy 2022-2025 - Expand the number of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles in the SPSV fleet - states that the number of WAVs in the fleet will be expanded by 25% by 2025, using 2021 as the base figure.

To support the wider availability of WAVs, my Department has funded the WAV grant scheme annually since 2014, to provide financial support towards the acquisition or conversion of suitable vehicles to operate as WAVs in the SPSV fleet. Under the WAV Grant, applicants can avail of up to €17,500 in grant funding. In relation to the 2025 iteration of this Scheme, this is currently closed to new applications, due to the high demand it received on the opening day with close to 2,000 applications being made, but will open again for applications in July 2025. Further information on this is available at this link: .

Further supports to SPSV drivers include the eSPSV Grant, which can be combined with the WAV Grant, where applicants can avail of up to €25,000 in grant funding and is available to persons (individuals or companies) applying for new SPSV licences or existing SPSV licence holders who wish to upgrade their current vehicle with a replacement electric vehicle. The Scheme provides grants towards new and second hand EVs, with a higher level of funding on offer where an older, existing vehicle, is scrapped. The 2025 Grant Scheme is now open for applications with €12.5 million allocated to the Scheme. Further information can be found here:

. Both the WAV and eSPSV Grant Schemes are funded by the Department and administered by the NTA.

In addition, Microfinance Ireland provides unsecured business loans up to €50,000 to both Start-ups and established businesses, that are having difficulty in getting access to funding through the usual credit institutions. Further details on loans that are available can be seen at this link: .

As of 31 January 2025, the current number of licenced SPSV drivers nationally is 27,760, with 61.5% (17,070) of this figure being licenced to drive in Dublin. The current number of licenced vehicles in the SPSV fleet is 20,413. A licensed vehicle can be operated anywhere in the country. It is only the licensed driver that has a geographical area restriction.