Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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125. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding engagement he has had with the taxi industry in relation to concerns related to fixed fairs for a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67884/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The NTA is the independent transport regulator of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector, and I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of that sector.

I recently met with the Advisory Committee on SPSVs, whose role it is to provide advice to the Minister for Transport and the NTA in relation to issues relevant to SPSVs and their drivers. I issued a letter to the NTA on 19 November last asking that they clarify the regulatory position on the Uber fixed price fare for the information of taxi operators and public representatives alike. Furthermore, I intend to further engage with SPSV sectoral representatives on this issue, once the NTA provides me with the clarification that I have sought.

Taxi drivers, who are self-employed operators, make a business decision to sign up (or not) with a licensed dispatch operator and are not obliged by the NTA to sign up with any dispatch operator. Dispatch operators are required to provide bookings to SPSV licensed drivers using SPSV licensed vehicles, only. Where taxi drivers choose to affiliate with a dispatch operator, they are free to contract with a dispatch operator of their choice.