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The Commission, in consultation with the Advisory Council and a wide range of industry representative bodies, has decided on  a number of new measures regarding the identity of where a driver can stand or ply for hire.  These include enhancements to the current Driver ID cards and the taxi roof sign.  

The Commission is now drafting the appropriate regulations, considering security measures and undertaking procurement for the production and distribution of these items. 
 
The Commission will contact drivers with further details when they are available.

Following a court hearing at 10.30 this morning, The High Court injunction prohibiting members of the Irish Taxi Council from trespassing on the premises of the Commission, ordering them to stay a distance of at least 30 yards from all entrances to the building and prohibiting them from besetting the building remains in place. Having requested the opportunity to submit a reply Affidavit, the persons in question have given an undertaking to adhere to the conditions of the injunction. The matter is now adjourned until April 14th, when this Affidavit will be heard.

The Commission again wishes to state that further protest action will succeed only in costing fellow taxi drivers business and disrupting customers. The Commission requests that those protesting refrain from any activities that will further inconvenience the travelling public and other business people.

The Commission cannot and will not, be influenced by any protest action. The Commission is engaged in ongoing statutory consultation with a number of industry representative bodies and remains committed to this process and to continuing the reforms of the industry, which have already proven to enhance standards in the industry to the benefit of both the industry and consumers. It will not let this protest action distract from this process.

Noel Deans was shoot dead on the 16th of January 2010 between 9.30pm and 10.30pm at Ferrycarrig Road.

This request is for any taxi drivers who were in the Ferrycarrig Road/Priorswood area especially near the Priorswood Inn and may have seen anything strange or unusual between 5.30pm and 10.30pm, or have any information to offer in relation to this investigation to contact the incident room in Clontarf Garda Station on 666 4800 or 666 4832.

The Commission for Taxi Regulation today announced its first public information campaign of 2010, focussing on the importance to consumers of getting a receipt for their journey. The provision of receipts has been a legal requirement since September 2006 for small public service vehicle journeys.

Advice for SPSV operators from the HSE Swine Flu information service supported by the Commission for Taxi Regulation.

Here you will find some useful preventing measures to help you minimise the risk of spreading or getting Swine Flu during this autumn/winter season.

The Commission for Taxi Regulation is currently preparing for the publication of its Strategy Statement for 2010-2014 and  invites public submissions on this five year strategic plan for consideration. The Commission is basing the development of its strategy for 2010-2014 on the outcome of public consultation during 2009.

The Commission for Taxi Regulation believes that a lower drink drive limit should be welcomed in the context of the Small Public Service Vehicle industry.

The Commission for Taxi Regulation and Road Safety Authority today launched a joint campaign targeted at members of the Small Public Service Vehicle Industry to highlight the dangers of driver fatigue. The radio campaign on national and local radio along with print advertising will remind drivers of taxis, hackneys and limousines of the risks they run if they are driving while tired as well as their legal obligations in relation to the number of hours they drive.

The Commission for Taxi Regulation has today announced the next stage of reforms for the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry following its most recent public consultation process. The Commission sought and received advice on the reforms from the Advisory Council to the Commission and completed Regulatory Impact Assessment and legal considerations on the reforms which will be implemented on a phased basis, between now and 2012.

To access the Summary of Forthcoming Reforms, please CLICK HERE.

The Commission for Taxi Regulation can confirm that it has received advice from the Advisory Council on a number of proposed further reforms for the industry, following the conclusion of a public consultation process on the recommendations of the Goodbody Economic Review.

The Commission will reflect on the advice received and following the conclusion of legal considerations, regulatory impact assessments and administrative arrangements will publish details of new reforms and a timeline for the introduction of reforms later this year. The reforms will cover a number of areas including vehicle and driver licensing, and enforcement.

Industry News Issue 11 contains valuable information regarding the new driver skills development programme, NCT suitability test and FAQs. There is also a "Facts and Figures" section outlining enforcement and licensing information through some easy to read tables. To read the publication click HERE.

The Commission for Taxi Regulation has completed its public consultation process on the revision of the National Maximum Taxi Fare and announced changes to the fare effective from November 1st 2008.

The fare revision follows a public consultation process which began in April 2008. In making its decision the Commission took into account the views of those that made submissions during the public consultation period, industry representatives, the Advisory Council to the Commission and other key stakeholders. Economic consultants also undertook a review of the costs of operating in the business and these results were also given due weight.

The changes reflect the increased costs of owning and operating a taxi since the National Maximum Taxi Fare was implemented in September 2006. The revisions to the fare are;

• An increase in the standard and premium initial charges and subsequent tariffs of 8.3%
• Christmas Eve 20:00h to St Stephen’s Day 8:00h and 20:00h New Year’s Eve to 8:00h New Year’s Day will now be charged at the highest tariff rate to address under supply on those days
• An increase in the soiling charge from €125 to €140

There will be no increase in the additional charges for extra passengers and booking charge
The changes will mean that the initial charge displayed when a customer hires a taxi will be €4.10 (standard rate) or €4.45 (premium rate). The new National Maximum Taxi Fare will come into operation on November 1st 2008 and drivers will have a three-week period from that date to ensure that their taximeters are calibrated with the new fare.

Commissioner for Taxi Regulation, Kathleen Doyle said; “The new fare has been set with due consideration for both taxi drivers and consumers. It is important that drivers have sufficient reward for their work, whilst a balance must be struck to ensure that the service remains affordable and demand is sustained. This review has been completed two years after the introduction of the National Maximum Taxi Fare, and we are making a commitment to a further review before the end of 2010.”

All vehicle licence holders will receive new in-vehicle information cards and sun visor stickers prior to the 1st of November. The full detail of the new fare is set out below. It should be noted that the fare continues to be a Maximum fare and can be discounted at a driver’s discretion.

A large number of submissions were received from Industry and Consumer and other interested parties.  These are being reviewed.  The Commission for Taxi Regulation will conclude its fare revision process in the third quarter of 2008.

Commissioner for Taxi Regulation, Kathleen Doyle said “We would encourage all members of the industry, taxi users and indeed anyone with an interest, to make their views in this important consultation known to the Commission.

The purpose of the Action Plan 2008-2009 is to maintain our progress in meeting objectives  set by ourselves in the strategy statement 2005-2009.   The Commission acknowledge the professionalism and high level of service provided by a large number of SPSV operators, the implementation of our new reforms will see all licence holders operating to the highest standard.

The Commission for Taxi Regulation has today published new vehicle standards for the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including taxis, hackneys and limousines. The new standards will bring in reforms across a wide range of areas within the sector on a phased basis from 2008 to 2012.

Media reports today suggest that the Commission for Taxi Regulation handled 4,000 complaints about the Taxi industry in 2006. The Commission would like to clarify this is incorrect. From September 25th 2006 to December 31st 2006 there were in fact 145 complaints made to the Commission. The Commission for Taxi Regulation 2006 report presented to the Cabinet stated that the Commission received 4,000 calls to the consumer information line in the first 14 weeks of operation. The consumer information line is open to all users of the SPSV industry and provides information on all aspects of the service as well as being the first contact point for customers who wish to make a complaint or to pay a compliment in relation to a service received.

Of the calls received in 2006 the majority were general information queries. These related to subjects including the details of the new fare structure, the new national taximeter area, customer rights and responsibilities, queries on lost property and services for people with disabilities, amongst others. The remainder of the calls were seeking information about making a complaint in relation to a SPSV provider or service.

With regard to the number of small public service vehicle licences there were in December 2006 16,429 licensed Taxis, 4,135 licensed Hackneys and 1,146 licensed Limousines.

As at November 2007 there are 43,504 active small public service vehicle driver licences nationally.

In June 2007, the Commission began seeking views from the industry in relation to the appropriate operation and control of taxi and wheelchair accessible taxi licences. The purpose of this review is to enhance compliance with SPSV legislation.

The deadline for responses was 1st September 2007 and over 130 submissions were received. The Commission will now consider all views submitted and review current regulations in relation to the operation and control of these licences.

March 2007 - The distribution of Driver ID cards is now nearing completion, with the final round of collection dates scheduled to end in June. The collection of 41,000 licences and subsequent creation of the new secure drvier idnetification began late last year and distribution commenced with Carlow and Kildare at the beginning of February.

The Commission is working closely with An Garda Síochána to ensure regular updates are provided to the Commission on renewals or new licences granted, so the Commisison in turn can arrange for the distribution of Driver ID packs as soon as possible to newly licensed drivers as well as drivers who have renewed their licence.

The Commission received over 190 submissions in reponse to its last consultation paper on vehicle standards. All submissions are currently being analysed with various representative groups and stakeholders being consulted. The Commission is considering all views which will assist them in providing a solution that balances overall quality, accessibility and safety improvements to enable passengers to embark, travel and disembark with safety and comfort.

The Commission will not make any decisions in relation to future vehicle standards until all the submissions have been considered and all the necessary research completed. In the meantime, existing standards can be found by clicking here. Any new standards will co-exist with the existing standards for a period of time in order to allow for a smooth transition and enable service providers to modify or change their vehicles, where necessary, over a reasonable period of time.

February 2007 The Commission for Taxi Regulation has made a submission to the Minister for Transport requesting the use of bus lanes to extend to all SPSVs.

The Commission for Taxi Regulation formally requests that a subsidy be provided to assist with the purchase of wheelchair accessible taxis and hackneys.