Taxi Licences
Seanad Éireann — 2026-06-30
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Jerry Buttimer (FG), Cork South-Central

In the context of a timeframe, the NTA is currently reviewing the dispatch licensing regulatory framework and it hopes to have new regulations prepared by quarter 4. As the Senator said, we have a lot done and we have more to do. We have given a variety of grants, through the NTA, to drivers looking to upgrade and purchase new vehicles. As I said on the local area hackney regulations, we have changed that model of delivery just this year. There is a whole new suite of proposals. We hope this will ensure more people will come into the industry and that we will have people being able to go to a concert or go out at night-time and avoid the temptation to drink and drive, which we cannot allow people to do.
We have seen an increase in the number of licences being granted and we are working to ensure the low numbers reached during Covid are increased. The bottom line is that it will take advocacy from people like the Senator, who has been a champion and leader in this area. It will take the Department, with the NTA, local councils and the hospitality sector, to drive this.
It is an important issue but we have made changes. It is also a business decision.
I hope we can get more people involved. I thank the Senator for raising the matter. I will work with her to ensure more road users avail of hackneys and taxis.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-06-30/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:07+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-30