Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 January 2026
177. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of increasing instances of SPSV drivers refusing to take customers on short journeys; the way in which his Department, in line with the NTA, can curb this trend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2227/26]
View answerThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry 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.
Section 23(2) of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 outlines the reasons that an SPSV driver may refuse to carry a passenger. These include but are not limited to:
• If the person’s proposed journey is more than 30 kilometres in distance;
• If the person’s acts in an aggressive, intoxicated, drunk or disorderly manner;
• If the person is dishevelled to such a degree that in the driver’s opinion carriage of such person would affect the sanitation or cleanliness of the taxi.
The NTA has informed me that if the intending passenger feels that none of these were applicable to their circumstances, they can submit a complaint to the NTA via a form which is available on the NTA's website, so that it can be investigated.
Authorised Persons (NTA Compliance Officers or any member of An Garda Síochána) may issue FPNs, commonly known as on the spot fines or penalties, for a range of offences which have been declared at law to be fixed payment offences. These notices may be issued as a result of a roadside check by a Compliance Officer or a member of An Garda Síochána, or they may be issued following a complaint from a customer. The fine for unreasonable refusal by a driver to carry a passenger is €150. Between January and August 2025, the NTA issued 48 fixed payment notices (FPNs) to SPSV operators for unreasonable refusal to carry a passenger where the journey is not more than 30 kilometres. Non-payment of the fixed payment notice can result in the NTA initiating a prosecution for the offence, which can then result in a criminal conviction. A court fine and legal costs may also accrue.
