Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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338. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the lack of standardisation in how taxis accept payment (details supplied); if a standardisation process can be considered to all customers, certainty prior to getting into the car; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45928/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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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 2015. I have no role in the day-to-day operations of the SPSV sector.

As the Deputy may be aware, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by section 20 and section 48 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013, the NTA introduced the Small Public Service Vehicle (Cashless Payment Facility) Regulations 2022 making it compulsory for operators to provide a card payment option.

Since 1 September 2022, all taxi drivers in Ireland must be equipped with a physical device/terminal to accept cashless payments as well as cash. Cashless payments in other SPSVs (e.g. hackneys or limousines) are provided at the discretion of the vehicle's operator. The Regulations do not relate to invoiced accounts held with operators, or to payments within booking service apps subscribed to by passengers.

Cashless Payment includes any such method identified within Article 4 of Directive (EU) 2015/2366 - the revised Payment Services Directive (PSD2). A physical cashless payment device/terminal enables each driver to, in effect, provide their own in-person, in-taxi payment method for passengers to pay by card.

Given the NTA's responsibility in the regulation of the SPSV sector, 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.