Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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309. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he intends to take to address the decline of 20% in taxi driver numbers in Longford and the 11.75% decline in Westmeath since 2019, according to NTA figures; and if he will increase the number of licensed taxi driver and vehicle supply to support the urban, rural and night-time economies, by at least 30% from 2023 levels by 2027, allow part-time drivers to enter the market by removing barriers identified by an organisation (details supplied) and increase the wheelchair accessible vehicles SPSV grant scheme and reform the SPSV driver entry test to account for advancements in technology. [39341/25]

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, the administration of the wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) grant and the SPSV Driver Entry Test, 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.

As the Deputy is aware, SPSV operators are self-employed individuals and, as such, decide on their own business strategies within the regulatory framework, and are free to choose their own hours of work.

I have recently met with the organisation the Deputy refers to.

Both the NTA and my Department have taken a number of steps to support taxi drivers nationally and to increase the number of taxis available to passengers. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the NTA extended the final operation date of vehicles on a few occasions and also extended the period that an SPSV licence may rest in an inactive (expired) status, from 12 months to 24 months, which is now permanent. In addition, the NTA made a National Maximum Taxi Fares Order which took effect from 1 December 2024, giving a nine per cent increase in the national maximum taxi fare. This followed on from the 12% increase in fares from 2022. The latest fare adjustment ensures that taxi fares continue to reflect the rising costs associated with operating a taxi service in Ireland. Furthermore, the NTA ran a driver recruitment campaign in 2022 which helped to attract new entrants into the industry.

It may be of interest to the Deputy that the number of SPSVs nationwide has been on the increase since Covid-19. As of 30 June 2025, the number of licensed SPSV drivers in Ireland is 27,815. This represents a 9% (2,389) increase on the 2021 figure of 25,426 when figures were at their lowest, and is higher than the number of licensed SPSV drivers pre-Covid 2019 (27,328). Likewise, the number of licensed SPSV vehicles is also rising since Covid with 20,889 vehicles licensed in the fleet as of 30 June 2025, representing a 10% (1,943) increase on the 2021 figure of 18,946. It should be noted that a licensed vehicle can be operated anywhere in the country, it is only the licensed driver that has a geographical area restriction.

The WAV Grant Scheme 2025 (WAV25) is currently closed to applications, due to extremely high demand on opening day, but will open again for applications on 14 July 2025. €1 million is being allocated in Round 2, bringing the total spend for WAV25 to €7 million. This represents the highest level ever offered via the WAV Grant Scheme compared to €6 million in 2024.

Given the NTA's responsibility in the areas of SPSV licensing, the WAV Grant and the SPSV Driver Entry Test, I have referred your question to the NTA for further information. Please advise my private office if you have not received a reply within 10 working days.