John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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365. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the effectiveness or otherwise of the local area hackney scheme as a component of the overall rural transport service offering; if he considers the local area hackney scheme as a solution to the lack of rural taxi availability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62278/25]

John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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366. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the future role he envisages the local area hackney scheme playing in the Government’s plans to improve rural accessibility and expansion of the SPSV fleet, as committed to in the Programme for Government; his views on the scheme as currently constituted is capable of playing an effective role in improved rural accessibility and expansion of the SPSV fleet; the actions he will take in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62279/25]

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 365 and 366 together.

The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including local area hackney licenses, 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.

The purpose of the local area hackney (LAH) licence is to offer an SPSV service in a rural community where existing transport services do not serve the needs of the community. The LAH can meet the demand for these services, but it cannot displace any existing SPSV services. Programme for Government 2025 contains a commitment to “Collaborate with the NTA to improve local taxi service provision”. To address this commitment, which is also aimed at increasing SPSV numbers, the NTA is undertaking a public consultation on proposed changes to the LAH regulations. The consultation opened on 16 October last and will close on 28 November. The proposed key changes to the regulations are to: (1) permit more than one local area hackney driver to operate the local area hackney; (2) enhance the voice of local communities regarding the transport needs assessment for their area, and (3) reduce the regulatory burden on applicants by giving greater clarity to local communities and applicants on the areas nationwide that are open for applications for LAH licences.

In addition to those key changes, the NTA also proposes to: extend the maximum licence period for vehicles and drivers from 3 years to 5 years; mandate licence holders to demonstrate that they are providing satisfactory service to their community when renewing their licence; reduce the time period in which a licence holder must complete their licence renewals from 12/24 months following expiration to within 3 months of their licence expiry, to ensure that a community is not without the required services, and introduce a new Fixed Penalty Notice offence for picking up passengers outside of their permitted local 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.