Taxis nine years and over to be taken off roads

Taxis more than nine years old are set to be removed from the roads from 2008 onwards following the introduction of new vehicle standards by the Taxi Regulator, Ger Deering.

Mr Deering is, however, requesting that the Government introduce a subsidy equivalent to the cost of Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) for taxis that are fully accessible for people with disabilities.

The Commission for Taxi Regulation will today launch the consultation phase on the standards required for Small Public Service Vehicles (SPSVs) including taxis, hackneys and limousines.

The exact age and facilities required of vehicles will not be determined until the end of the public consultation period next March. However, it is likely that vehicles over nine years old will not be considered unfit for use as SPSVs.

The commission's consultation paper will set out recommendations on vehicle size, condition, capacity, safety, security accessibility and comfort. It will also invite submissions on environmental issues, innovation, compliance and a new quality assurance programme.

It is understood that the recommendations will lay particular emphasis on the importance of wheelchair accessibility. While there has not been a major decline in the number of wheelchair-accessible taxis on the roads, their numbers did not increase in line with the overall fleet when the industry was deregulated.

Taxi driver unions say their members are not replacing accessible taxis at the end of their life span because they are too expensive to run and insure. The unions have lobbied the Government to eliminate VRT on accessible taxis.

Mr Deering also made a submission to the Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen, requesting the removal of the tax for accessible vehicles. However, he said Mr Cullen has determined that a subsidy would be more appropriate than a cut in tax.

The subsidy is likely to be put in place to coincide with the introduction of the new vehicle standards and be of a similar monetary value to the removal of VRT.

The introduction of vehicle standards follows the changeover to a new national fare last September, which replaced the system where fares were determined on a local authority basis. Compulsory skills development courses will begin in late 2007 for new drivers and from 2008 on for existing drivers.