Robert O'Donoghue (Dublin Fingal West, Labour)
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335. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of any plans to conduct a review of app-based taxi fare models and their compliance with Irish taxi regulations; if he is aware of any plans to ensure transparency and parity in fare structures between licensed taxi operators and app-based platforms; if there are any Departmental plans to develop a publicly managed NTA taxi-hailing app; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63994/25]

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

Section 24 of the Consolidated Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 and 2016 empowers the NTA Board to make a 'Maximum Fares Order' fixing the maximum fare that may be charged by the driver of a taxi for any journey and ensuring the protection of passengers. The current maximum fares order took effect in December 2024 and a maximum fare review is carried our approximately every two years. The NTA has conducted these reviews since 2011. It should be noted that hackneys and limousines agree their fares in advance and do not use a meter.

Neither I, my Department nor the NTA are parties to the commercial or contractual arrangements in place between SPSV drivers and dispatch operator(s).

Given the NTA's responsibility in this area, and in relation to your comment regarding an NTA taxi-hailing app, 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.