Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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83. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the enforcement powers the National Transport Authority currently has to prevent dispatch operators from undercutting regulated fares; and if these powers are sufficient to protect driver incomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67407/25]

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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84. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will initiate a review of the dispatch operator licence system to ensure that its purpose remains limited to distributing work to drivers, and not to setting or manipulating fares; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67408/25]

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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85. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will confirm whether the NTA has considered imposing additional conditions on dispatch operator licences under Section 20(2) of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 to prevent fare manipulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67409/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 83, 84 and 85 together.

The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including the licensing and regulation of dispatch operators, 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.

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 reply within 10 working days.

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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86. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has reviewed international cases, such as the Australian settlement with a company (details supplied); the lessons which can be applied to protect Irish drivers from similar income erosion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67412/25]

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 2016. I have no role in the day-to-day operations of the SPSV sector.

Ireland's SPSV regulatory framework requires that all drivers and vehicles are licensed, as a means of protecting the consumer and helping ensure public safety. Furthermore, no special regulations have been developed to govern the carriage of passengers by passenger cars which are not SPSVs. Therefore, the classic model where anyone with a car and the relevant App may provide taxi services, does not exist here. The protection of the consumer and personal safety are vital objectives and must continue to be central to how the SPSV industry is regulated and operated.

Uber has been operating as a licensed dispatch operator in Ireland since 2014 and, as it is considered a transport service which offers the carriage of passengers for reward, it is subject to the same regulations as all SPSVs in Ireland. A SPSV dispatch operator is an individual or organisation that provides a service for taking bookings for SPSV services that are delivered by someone else, or who provides a service that enables intending passengers to arrange the hire of an SPSV themselves. The NTA grants dispatch operator licences to individuals or companies, such as Uber which meets set criteria. Dispatch operators have an important role to play in providing a first-class service to the travelling public and improving the delivery of door-to-door services to people with disabilities.

SPSV operators are self-employed and may decide whether (or not) to sign-up with a licensed dispatch operator, such as Uber. They are not obliged to be affiliated with any dispatch operator but where they choose to do so, they are free to contract with a dispatch operator of their choice. They also decide on their own hours of work within the SPSV regulatory framework.

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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87. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider introducing regulations to ensure fare transparency and parity across all dispatch operators, including app-based platforms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67413/25]

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 and regulation of dispatch operators, 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.

Given the NTA's responsibility in this area, I have referred your question to them for further information. Please advise my private office if you have not received a reply within 10 working days.