Taxi licences not transferable under reforms

ALL NEW taxis licensed from next year will have to be wheelchair accessible and taxi licences will no longer be transferable from one driver to another under reforms announced yesterday.

The commissioner for taxi regulation, Kathleen Doyle, announced the changes for the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry following the commission’s most recent public consultation process.

They will be implemented on a phased basis between now and 2012 and include a fast-tracking of the driver skills programme. In addition, the commissioner has brought forward from 2012 to 2011 a requirement that vehicles licensed as taxis may not be any more than nine years old.

The commission is also examining the possibility of issuing fleet licences for those holding multiple licences, for “greater transparency and enforcement purposes”.

Speaking to The Irish Times, Ms Doyle said that while there was a strong supply of saloon vehicles at present, there was a weaker supply of wheelchair accessible vehicles.

“We would regularly meet people from the accessibility and disability groups. The problem there is they are having a difficult time trying to find accessible vehicles, particularly in rural areas. Part of the initiative is to roll out a new category of vehicle, a wheelchair-accessible hackney, which would serve people in rural areas which aren’t accessible at present.

The commissioner said she would introduce stronger penalties for drivers of wheelchair accessible vehicles who failed to provide a service to people with disabilities when requested to do so.

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.

Ms Doyle acknowledged, however, that there was a certain “expectation” for holders of existing licences and they would therefore be transferable, but only once more and to a high-quality vehicle less than three years’ old.

Ms Doyle said the recommendations were a “proactive response” to the recommendations of the Goodbody Economic Review on the industry.

“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.”

President of the Irish Taxi Drivers’ Federation, John Ussher, said he welcomed the fact that the commission would make all new licences 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 to buy new ones.

Vinny Doyle, chief executive of Dublin-based Xpert Taxis, said the recommendations were “reasonably positive” and that they should gain acceptance from the industry.