Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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133. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide an update on the current review of small public service vehicle provision in rural areas; whether he is aware of the challenges facing rural hackney providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51814/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including the local area hackney licence, 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.

Currently, the NTA issues local area hackney (LAH) licences where applicants can show that there is a need for this part-time service and that it will not displace or replace current SPSV providers in a given area. To operate a local area hackney, two licences are required. These are: (1) a local area hackney licence for the vehicle - this three-year licence is obtainable from the NTA; and (2) a licence to drive a local area hackney - this licence is obtainable from An Garda Síochána. It is not required if a person already holds a valid licence to drive SPSVs.

A resident of the area in respect of which the local area hackney licence is sought, is not required to undertake the Industry Knowledge or Area Knowledge tests normally applying for SPSV driver licences. LAH drivers nevertheless must be licensed, and their vehicles must be licensed and insured. A local area hackney may only pick up passengers within a designated area of about 10km and may not pick up a new fare at a drop off point or any other point outside its designated area. As of 31 August 2025, there are 23 licensed LAH vehicles and 26 licensed LAH drivers.

I have been informed by the NTA that they are conducting a review of the Local Area Hackney regulations and associated processes with a view to increasing uptake of this special licence type. Where amendments to the current regulations are proposed as an output of the review, the NTA will undertake a public consultation on the matter.