People with Disabilities in Ireland
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Q 1054. Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Transport the details of the regulations regarding the specifications for wheelchair accessible taxis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20228/03]
Minister for Transport(Mr Brennan):
In order to be licensed as a wheelchair accessible taxi, a vehicle must comply with the requirements of the public service vehicle regulations including a specification for a wheelchair accessible taxi that is detailed in the Schedule to the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations 1998 (SI No. 47 of 1998). The Government is committed under the agreed programme for Government to continue the process of making taxis wheelchair accessible. In this regard, the recently enacted Taxi Regulation Act 2003, which provides for the establishment of a Commission for Taxi Regulation, specifically provides that an objective of the commission will be to promote access to small public service vehicles by persons with disabilities. The commission will be tasked with the determination of future policy in relation to accessible taxis and it is anticipated that this will involve consideration of improvements to the existing wheelchair accessible taxi specification.
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