Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 May 2026
24. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 179 of 6 November 2025, to provide an update on the development of legislative changes to the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 with respect to cross-Border taxi services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35636/26]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the 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. Under Section 6(2) of this Act, An Garda Síochána is responsible for the granting of SPSV driver licences. I have no role in the day-to-day operations of the SPSV sector.
As set out in Parliamentary Question No. 179 of 6 November 2025, under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013, operators are required to hold a vehicle licence and a driver licence to carry persons for hire or reward in the State. Legislative requirements do not provide for services across a border. A taxi operator wishing to operate cross-border services therefore would have to apply for and obtain the appropriate licences on each side of the border.
This issue requires legislative arrangements on a reciprocal basis on either side of the border. My Department, in conjunction with the NTA, is currently working on amendments to the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. The Bill is included in the all other legislation section of the Government's Summer 2026 Legislation Programme. Heads of this Bill are currently in preparation.
