Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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119. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of the increasing prevalence and cost of taxi plates to rent, and that, in some cases, multi-plate owners are renting plates for €7,000 a year; if he has conducted an assessment of this practice in the industry; if he has plans to reform or regulate the practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38352/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector, including SPSV licensing, 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.

At present, the NTA only issues new licences for wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs). This is to promote the availability of WAVs in Ireland’s SPSV fleet nationally, not just in larger urban areas. To support the wider availability of WAVs, the Department has funded the WAV grant scheme annually since 2014, to provide financial support towards the acquisition or conversion of suitable vehicles to operate as WAVs in the SPSV fleet. It is the NTA who administrate the wheelchair accessible vehicle grant scheme.

It is also an option for a person who holds a valid SPSV driver licence, issued by An Garda Síochána, to rent a suitable vehicle. The person providing the rental package must:

1.be the registered owner of the vehicle licensed in his/her name and must provide appropriate insurance for the period of the rental; or be entitled to use the vehicle as an SPSV for a minimum period of 12 months.

2.provide appropriate insurance for the period of the rental

3.ensure that the person driving is fully licensed to drive the vehicle as an SPSV,

4.keep records of the name, address and contact number of each person driving the SPSV and their SPSV driver licence details; and

5.retain these records and make them available for inspection by the NTA on request.

70% of vehicles licenced are owned and driven by the same person, with the remaining 30% of the fleet operating in the rental sector. In October 2023, I appointed a representative from the SPSV rental sector to the Advisory Committee on SPSVs to ensure the perspective of drivers who rent their vehicle is reflected in Committee discussions. The Committee is an independent body established and operated under the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. Its primary function is to provide advice to NTA and to the Minister for Transport, in relation to issues relevant to small public service vehicles and their drivers.

I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.