Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 April 2026
383. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to a matter (details supplied); if he has addressed it with the NTA; if his attention has been drawn to any passengers having been overcharged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27972/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
The Legal Metrology Service, which is part of the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI), is the agency responsible for the regulation and verification of taximeters, while also ensuring taximeters are of an approved type, and verified so that fares charged to passengers are correct and accurate.
The NTA recently made the NSAI aware of a taximeter programming issue with Digitax taxi metering systems, that may result in overcharging passengers, in contravention of the National Maximum Taxi Fare Regulations. Approximately 7.5% of taximeters in use are impacted by this, affecting trade operations between 08:00 to 20:00, Monday – Saturday. The applicable taxi operators have been informed by the NSAI of the issue. The NTA has advised me that those affected operators should cease operations immediately, and operations are not to re-commence until their taximeters are updated and re-verified.
Given the NTA's responsibility in regulating the SPSV sector, I have referred your question to the NTA for further information. Please advise my private office if you have not received a reply within 10 working days.
