New taxi licences will only be issued to owners of wheelchair-accessible vehicles from next year and drivers will no longer be able to sell on their licence under reforms announced today.
Commissioner for Taxi Regulation Kathleen Doyle announced the reforms for the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry following the latest public consultation process. They will be implemented on a phased basis between now and 2012.
The main reforms include a decision by the commission that it will issue new taxi and hackney licences for wheelchair-accessible vehicles only from 2010.
“As it is individuals with disabilities who are often most reliant on the door-to-door service offered by taxis, the commission believes that there is a need to increase the number of wheelchair accessible vehicles and improve the availability of those already licensed to provide a service,” Ms Doyle said.
She said the measures announced today were a “natural progression” in the ongoing reform of the industry.
“They are also a proactive response to the recommendations contained within the Goodbody Economic Review and our consultations with industry and consumers,” she said.
The commissioner warned she would introduce stronger penalties for drivers of wheelchair accessible vehicles who fail to provide a service to people with disabilities, when requested to do so. She said drivers had been fined in the past for such refusals.
The commission said it was a priority to ensure that people with disabilities have access to high-quality vehicles. All such vehicles will have to meet new vehicle standards for wheelchair-accessible taxis/hackneys which were published by the commission in 2007.
President of the Irish Taxi Drivers’ Federation John Ussher said he welcomed the fact that the commission would make all new taxis wheelchair accessible. But he said he would like to have seen grants made available by the commission for drivers without wheelchair-accessible vehicles to convert them or buy new ones. “I feel she’s trying to bring us in a forward direction,” Mr Ussher said.
But Mr Ussher said he believed some previously announced changes had instead been “backward” steps. These included an increase in the cost of a taxi badge to €250, and the fact that drivers would have to have their annual vehicle suitability test and NCT tests carried out at different locations.
To ensure the second-hand market value of licences does not artificially increase following any new entry requirements, any new taxi licences issued will not be transferable. Existing taxi licences will be transferable only once more and may only be transferred to a standard saloon car under three years old. Ms Doyle said this would ensure those entering the industry would do so at a high standard.
The commission has also brought forward by one year a recommendation that all taxis and hackney operators have a vehicle less than nine years old. This was to have been imposed from 2012 but the commission now wants the rule implemented from 2011.
However, Ms Doyle said today that 25 per cent of the standard taxi and hackney fleet were now over the age of nine years – some by a number of years. “The commission appreciates that there are cost implications for drivers; nevertheless, this must be balanced against the requirement for those operating to be fully committed to the business and providing a high quality service,” she said.
“We firmly believe that at the conclusion of this reform period, that Ireland will have an SPSV fleet it can be proud of and the consumers and the industry will greatly benefit,” Ms Doyle said.
The commission said it would also examine the feasibility of introducing a fleet licence for multiple-vehicle licence holders, such as taxi and hackney companies. Ms Doyle said this would enable multiple licence holders with a fleet of vehicles employing drivers, and those renting or leasing licences and licensed vehicles, to continue "to create driver employment in the industry and maximise vehicle utilisation, but allow for greater transparency for enforcement purposes".
The commission was advised by its advisory council, which includes industry representatives. It also carried out assessments on the regulatory impact and the legal implications of the reforms.
As of October 1st last there were a total of 27,169 active SPSV licences nationally. This includes 19,601 taxis, 1,577 wheelchair-accessible taxis, 4,661 hackneys and 1,330 limousines.