S.I. No. 250/2010 - Taxi Regulation Act 2003 (Grant of Taxi Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 2010.

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 8th June, 2010.

The Commission for Taxi Regulation, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by sections 34 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 (No. 25 of 2003), hereby makes the following regulations:

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 (Grant of Taxi Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 2010.

2. In respect of an application for the grant of a small public service vehicle licence other than a limousine licence, the Commission may grant such a licence only where the vehicle the subject of the application complies with the specifications relating to wheelchair accessible taxis or wheelchair accessible hackneys, as appropriate, contained in the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations 1963 to 2003 and Regulations made under section 34 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 (No. 25 of 2003).

3. (1) A taxi licence granted before the date on which these Regulations come into operation may be continued in force in respect of another party on one occasion only.

(2) A continuance in force referred to in paragraph (1) may be completed only where the vehicle in respect of which it is proposed to continue the licence in force is, on the date such application is received by the Commission, less than three years of age from the date of first registration.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), where there is an application for the continuance in force of a licence referred to in paragraph (1) in respect of a different vehicle, the vehicle in respect of which it is proposed to have the licence continued in force shall, on the date such application is received by the Commission, be no older than the vehicle from which the licence is to be transferred.

(4) For the purposes of this Regulation—

(a) the age of the vehicle shall be assumed to be three years on the date of application for continuance in force referred to in paragraph (1), and

(b) “date of first registration” means the date on which the vehicle in question was first registered in whichever country the vehicle was first registered.

4. A taxi licence granted after the date on which these Regulations come into operation may not be continued in force in respect of another party.

5. A wheelchair accessible taxi licence may not be continued in force in respect of another party.

GIVEN under the Seal of the Commission for Taxi Regulation,

8 June 2010.

KATHLEEN DOYLE,

Commissioner for Taxi Regulation.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

These Regulations provide that a hackney or taxi licence may be granted only in respect of a vehicle that is wheelchair accessible.

They further provide that a person who is granted a taxi or wheelchair accessible taxi licence (i.e. a new licence) after these Regulations come into operation will not be permitted to transfer that licence to another party. In addition, they provide that a taxi licence granted before these Regulations come into operation (i.e. an existing taxi licence) may be transferred from the licence-holder to another party on only one further occasion. This transfer may only be made in respect of a vehicle that is less than three years old. Subsequent changes in vehicle may be no older than the vehicle it replaces. A wheelchair accessible taxi licence granted before these Regulations come into operation is not transferable.