Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

"Iris Oifigiúil" of 23rd November, 2010.

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. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 (Suitability Inspection and Taxi Roof Sign) (Amendment) Regulations 2010.

(2) Regulation 2(b) shall come into operation on 1 January 2011, Regulation 3 shall come into operation on 1 August 2011 and Regulation 2(a) shall come into operation on 1 January 2012.

2. The Taxi Regulation Act 2003 (Suitability Inspection and Annual Licence Renewal Assessment of Small Public Service Vehicles) Regulations 2010 ( S.I. No. 249 of 2010 ) are amended-

(a) by substituting the following for Regulation 14:

"Taxi and Hackney - Vehicle Size and Luggage

14. (1) Subject to paragraph (2), a vehicle the subject of an application for the grant or renewal of a hackney licence or a taxi licence shall-

(a) comply with the fitness for purpose specifications relating to permanent feature vehicle size contained in Schedule 5,

(b) have a guard or cover fitted to the luggage compartment to prevent luggage from causing injury to any person in the event of an accident, and

(c) have a permanent, rigid roof covering driver and passenger compartments.

(2) The Commission may reduce or waive the requirements of paragraph (1)(a) where it is satisfied that the vehicle concerned is a series production hybrid electric vehicle or a series production flexible fuel vehicle.

(3) In relation to a vehicle the subject of an application for the continuance in force of a taxi or hackney licence in respect of a different vehicle, the vehicle in respect of which it is proposed to have the licence continued in force shall comply with the requirements of paragraph (1).

(4) In relation to a vehicle the subject of an application for the continuance in force of a taxi licence in respect of another party, the vehicle in respect of which it is proposed to have the licence continued in force shall comply with the requirements of paragraph (1).

(5) In respect of a vehicle referred to in paragraph (1), (2), (3) or (4), any area provided for luggage shall be available for passenger luggage and shall not contain insecure items or be damp or dirty.

(6) In respect of a vehicle referred to in paragraph (1), (2), (3) or (4), the vehicle concerned shall be provided with seats in relation to which-

(a) the supports shall be firmly fixed in position, and

(b) at least 400 millimetres measured in a straight line along the front of each seat shall be allowed for each passenger.",

(b) by substituting the following for Regulation 23(2):

"(2) In relation to a vehicle the subject of an application for the renewal of a hackney licence or taxi licence, the vehicle concerned shall, on the date on which the application is received by the Commission, be less than nine years of age from the date of first registration.", and

(c) by substituting the following for Regulation 23(3):

"(3) Subject to Regulation 3(3) of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 (Grant of Taxi Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 ( S.I. No. 250 of 2010 ), in relation to an application for the continuance in force of a taxi licence or hackney licence 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 on which the application is received by the Commission, be less than nine years of age from the date of first registration.".

3. The Schedule to the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 (Small Public Service Vehicles) (Amendment and Licensing) Regulations 2007 ( S.I. No. 710 of 2007 ) is substituted by the Schedule to these Regulations.

Regulation 3.

SCHEDULEREQUIREMENTS TO BE COMPLIED WITH IN RELATION TO A TAXI SIGN

1. The sign shall be constructed of a durable material, be weatherproof andcapable of being securely mounted on the roof of the vehicle so that it is not subject to vibration likely to damage the electric light installation required under paragraph 4 of this Schedule.

2. Subject to paragraph 5, the dimensions of the sign shall be such that the surface of the sign which is capable of being illuminated shall not be more than 120 millimetres and not less than 110 millimetres in height and not less than 1,030 millimetres and not more than 1,120 millimetres in length.

3. (1) The front and rear faces of the sign shall each be divided into three sections.

(2) The central sections on each face of the sign shall be no less than 300 millimetres and no more than 360 millimetres in width and shall display the word "TAXI" or, in the Irish language, "TACSAI" in yellow letters on a dark blue background of low light transmittance. Each letter shall be no less than 80 millimetres and no more than 90 millimetres in height and no less than 14 millimetres and no more than 16 millimetres in stroke width.

(3) The sections of the sign on the left of the sign as viewed from the rear of the vehicle and on the right of the sign as viewed from the front shall have a yellow background and shall be no less than 360 millimetres and no more than 425 millimetres in width and shall display on that background in black letters or numerals as the case may be-

(a) the licence number, each numeral of which shall be no less than 85 millimetres and no more than 90 millimetres in height; the strokes for each numeral shall be no less than 14 millimetres and no more than 16 millimetres broad; the total width of every numeral except the numeral "1" shall be no less than 45 millimetres and no more than 60 millimetres and the spacing between the nearest parts of adjoining numerals shall be approximately 7 millimetres, and

(b) above the licence number or to the left hand side or to the right hand side of the licence number, the words "licence number" or, in the Irish language, "uimhir cheadunais".

(4) Subject to paragraph 5, no letter or numeral displayed on the remaining sections of each face of the sign shall exceed 70 millimetres in height.

4. (1) The sign shall be capable of being lit by means of an internal electric light installation to enable the licence number to be readily identifiable.

(2) When lit, the sign shall not show a red light to the front or a white light to the rear.

(3) When lit, the sign shall emit a diffused light and shall be designed to emit a light of a brightness not exceeding 400 candela per square metre of the illuminated area of the sign.

5. A taxi or wheelchair accessible taxi shall display on the panel on the right of the sign as viewed from the rear and on the left of the sign as viewed from the front of the vehicle the county identification of the driver of that vehicle, which identification shall comprise such content and security features and be of such dimensions as are determined by the Commission.

6. (1) Subject to paragraph 5 and subparagraph (2), the panel on the right of the sign as viewed from the rear of the vehicle and on the left of the sign as viewed from the front of the vehicle shall contain only-

(a) the contact details in relation to the taxi or wheelchair accessible taxi,

(b) the contact details of the dispatch operator, as appropriate, or

(c) the name of a small public service vehicle representative body.

(2) A wheelchair accessible taxi shall display on the panel on the right of the sign as viewed from the rear of the vehicle and on the left of the sign as viewed from the front of the vehicle the following symbol or a substantially similar symbol, which symbol shall be approximately 90 millimetres in height:

(3) Where, subject to paragraph 5, the panel on the right of the sign as viewed from the rear of the vehicle or on the left of the sign as viewed from the front of the vehicle remains blank, its background shall be yellow in colour.

7. With the prior consent of any individual who hires a taxi in respect of any journey that is likely to exceed 30 kilometres, the taxi sign may be positioned longitudinally.

8. The driver shall cause the taxi sign to be illuminated when standing for hire or plying for hire and shall cause the taxi sign illumination to be switched off when transporting a fare-paying passenger.

GIVEN under the seal of the Commission for Taxi Regulation,

17 November 2010.

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 provide for amendments to the initial suitability inspection and licence renewal assessment of taxis and hackneys. They also amend the roofsign requirements in relation to taxis.