Dáil Éireann - Volume 539 - 26 June, 2001

Written Answers. - Taxi Licences.

Mr. Cosgrave Mr. Cosgrave

355. Mr. Cosgrave asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of taxi licences issued to date; the number of people who are full-time taxi operators; the number of people who are part-time taxi operators; the number of hours a person can legally drive a taxi in a working day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18515/01]

Mr. O'Donoghue Mr. O'Donoghue

379

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue): Neither my Department nor the Garda authorities have a role in relation to the issuance of taxi licences, as this is a matter for the relevant local authority under the Public [379] Service Vehicles Regulations, 1963, as amended, of the Road Traffic Act, 1961, as amended.

The Garda Síochána is, however, responsible for the issuance of taxi driver licences to suitable applicants. I am informed by the Garda authorities that information in relation to the number of taxi driver licences in the State would take a considerable amount of Garda time to compile and is not readily available.

In relation to the number of hours a person can legally drive a taxi, I am informed by the Garda authorities that a person is prohibited from driving a public service vehicle for more than 11 hours in any one day in any period of three consecutive days.

Dáil Éireann 539 Written Answers. Taxi Licences.

Questions

20010626