Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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315. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the financial supports available to taxi drivers, particularly taxi drivers renting their vehicles and wishing to purchase their own vehicle with the assistance of a grant; if additional funding will be made available to allow for the reopening of the eSPSV and WAV grant schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45368/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including the administration of grant and financial supports to SPSV drivers, 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.

Grants, which are administered by the NTA, are available to SPSV drivers wishing to purchase new vehicles. Firstly, the wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) grant provides 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 addition to the WAV grant, the eSPSV Grant Scheme 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. Applicants can avail of up to €25,000 in grant funding under this Scheme. 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 iterations of these grant schemes are closed to new applications, as they are both fully subscribed, but they may re-open in early 2026, subject to the provision of funding.

A further avenue to help SPSV drivers financially is through Microfinance Ireland. 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: .

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.