S.I. No. 166 of 2009

TAXI REGULATION ACT 2003 (SMALL PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME AND DRIVER LICENCE FEE) REGULATIONS 2009

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

"Iris Oifigiúil" of 5th May, 2009.

The Commission for Taxi Regulation, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by section 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 (Small Public Service Vehicle Skills Development Programme and Driver Licence Fee) Regulations 2009.

2. (1) An applicant for a new licence to drive a small public service vehicle shall undertake a programme of skills ("Small Public Service Vehicle Skills Development Programme") developed by the Commission in respect of operators in the small public service vehicle industry.

(2) On the successful completion of the Small Public Service Vehicle Skills Development Programme, an applicant shall be granted a Small Public Service Vehicle Skills Development Programme Certificate, as determined by the Commission.

3. For the purposes of Part IV of the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations 1963 ( S.I. No. 191 of 1963 ), an application for a new licence to drive a small public service vehicle may be deemed duly made only where the application concerned is accompanied by a Small Public Service Vehicle Skills Development Programme Certificate as referred to in Regulation 2.

4. The Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations 1963 ( S.I. No. 191 of 1963 ), as amended by Regulation 6 of the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2001 ( S.I. No. 534 of 2001 ), are amended by substituting the following for Regulation 41:

"(1) The fee payable in respect of an application for a new licence to drive a small public service vehicle is €250.00.

(2) The fee payable in respect of an application to renew a licence to drive a small public service vehicle is €250.00.

(3) The fees payable under this Regulation are payable to the Commission for Taxi Regulation."

GIVEN under the seal of the Commission for Taxi Regulation,

1 May 2009

KATHLEEN DOYLE

Commissioner for Taxi Regulation.

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

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

These Regulations introduce the Commission for Taxi Regulation Driver Skills Development Programme in respect of applicants for small public service vehicle (SPSV) driver licences. This programme replaces the test formerly administered by the Garda Síochána.

In addition, these Regulations provide that the fee for a SPSV driver licence (both first application and renewal) is €250.00.