Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 20th July, 2021.

The National Transport Authority, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by section 7 of the Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 and 2016 (No. 37 of 2013 as amended), hereby makes the following Regulations to make exceptional provision, having regard to the Covid-19 pandemic, and in order to mitigate the adverse economic consequences likely to result from the spread of that disease and to mitigate its impact on essential public transport services:

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Small Public Service Vehicle (Emergency Measure Covid-19) (Fees) Regulations 2021.

2. In these Regulations “Principal Regulations” means the Taxi Regulation (Small Public Service Vehicle) Regulations 2015 ( S.I. No. 33 of 2015 ).

3. In these Regulations, “Covid-19” means a disease caused by infection with the virus SARS-CoV-2 and specified as an infectious disease in accordance with Regulation 6 of, and the Schedule to, the Infectious Diseases Regulations 1981 ( S.I. No. 390 of 1981 ) or any variant of the disease so specified as an infectious disease in those Regulations.

4. Regulation 6 shall cease to have effect on the 30 June 2022.

5. Regulation 7 shall come into operation on the 01 July 2022 and shall cease to have effect on the 31 December 2022.

6. The Principal Regulations are amended by substitution of the following for Schedule 1:-

“SCHEDULE 1

Fees

1. The following fees shall be payable in respect of a granting of a new small public service vehicle licence—

(a) €125 in respect of a wheelchair accessible taxi licence or wheelchair accessible hackney licence,

(b) €1,000 in respect of a limousine licence, and

(c) €50 in respect of a local area hackney licence

2. The following fees shall be payable in respect of the renewal of a small public service vehicle licence for a period of twelve months—

(a) €0 in respect of renewals of standard taxi licences, standard hackney licences or limousine licences completed prior to the expiry date of the prior licence,

(b) €0 in respect of renewals of wheelchair accessible taxi licences, wheelchair accessible hackney licences or local area hackney licences completed prior to the expiry date of the prior licence, and

(c) €0 in respect of replacement licences granted after the expiry date of the prior licence.

3. The following fees shall be payable in respect of the renewal of a small public service vehicle licence for a period of up to six months—

(a) €0 in respect of renewals of standard taxi licences, standard hackney licences or limousine licences completed prior to the expiry date of the prior licence,

(b) €0 in respect of renewals of wheelchair accessible taxi licences, wheelchair accessible hackney licences or local area hackney licences completed prior to the expiry date of the prior licence, and

(c) €0 in respect of replacement licences granted after the expiry date of the prior licence.

4. A fee of €250 shall be payable in respect of the initial grant of a small public service vehicle driver’s licence.

5. The following fees shall be payable in respect of the renewal of a small public service vehicle driver’s licence—

(a) €250 in respect of renewal applications submitted prior to the expiry date of the prior licence,

(b) €300 in respect of renewal applications submitted within 30 days after the expiry date of the prior licence, and

(c) €400 in respect of renewal applications submitted more than 30 days after the expiry date of the prior licence.

6. A fee of €20 shall be payable in respect of the initial granting or the renewal of a local area hackney driver’s licence.

7. A fee of €150 shall be payable in respect of a continuance in force of a small public service vehicle licence in respect of a different vehicle.

8. A fee of €90 shall apply to all applications to undertake the SPSV Driver Entry Test.

9. A fee of €90 shall apply to all applications to undertake the Area Knowledge Test.

10. A fee of €90 shall apply to all applications to undertake the Industry Knowledge Test.

11. A fee of €100 shall be payable in respect of the grant of a new dispatch operator licence or the renewal of a dispatch operator licence.

12. A fee of €100 shall be payable in respect of applications for licensing exemptions under Part 7 of the Principal Act.

13. A fee of €125 shall be payable in respect of an application under section 15 of the Principal Act.”

7. The Principal Regulations are amended by substitution of the following for Schedule 1:-

“SCHEDULE 1

Fees

1. The following fees shall be payable in respect of a granting of a new small public service vehicle licence—

(a) €125 in respect of a wheelchair accessible taxi licence or wheelchair accessible hackney licence,

(b) €1,000 in respect of a limousine licence, and

(c) €50 in respect of a local area hackney licence.

2. The following fees shall be payable in respect of the renewal of a small public service vehicle licence for a period of twelve months—

(a) €0 in respect of renewals of standard taxi licences, standard hackney licences or limousine licences completed prior to the expiry date of the prior licence,

(b) €0 in respect of renewals of wheelchair accessible taxi licences, wheelchair accessible hackney licences or local area hackney licences completed prior to the expiry date of the prior licence, and

(c) €150 in respect of replacement licences granted after the expiry date of the prior licence.

3. The following fees shall be payable in respect of the renewal of a small public service vehicle licence for a period of up to six months—

(a) €0 in respect of renewals of standard taxi licences, standard hackney licences or limousine licences completed prior to the expiry date of the prior licence,

(b) €0 in respect of renewals of wheelchair accessible taxi licences, wheelchair accessible hackney licences or local area hackney licences completed prior to the expiry date of the prior licence, and

(c) €75 in respect of replacement licences granted after the expiry date of the prior licence.

4. A fee of €250 shall be payable in respect of the initial grant of a small public service vehicle driver’s licence.

5. The following fees shall be payable in respect of the renewal of a small public service vehicle driver’s licence—

(a) €250 in respect of renewal applications submitted prior to the expiry date of the prior licence,

(b) €300 in respect of renewal applications submitted within 30 days after the expiry date of the prior licence, and

(c) €400 in respect of renewal applications submitted more than 30 days after the expiry date of the prior licence.

6. A fee of €20 shall be payable in respect of the initial granting or the renewal of a local area hackney driver’s licence.

7. A fee of €150 shall be payable in respect of a continuance in force of a small public service vehicle licence in respect of a different vehicle.

8. A fee of €90 shall apply to all applications to undertake the SPSV Driver Entry Test.

9. A fee of €90 shall apply to all applications to undertake the Area Knowledge Test.

10. A fee of €90 shall apply to all applications to undertake the Industry Knowledge Test.

11. A fee of €100 shall be payable in respect of the grant of a new dispatch operator licence or the renewal of a dispatch operator licence.

12. A fee of €100 shall be payable in respect of applications for licensing exemptions under Part 7 of the Principal Act.

13. A fee of €125 shall be payable in respect of an application under section 15 of the Principal Act.”

8. The Small Public Service Vehicle (Emergency Measure Covid-19) (Fees) Regulations 2020 ( S.I. No. 665 of 2020 ) are revoked.

GIVEN under the Seal of the National Transport Authority,

16 July 2021.

FRED BARRY,

Chairperson, National Transport Authority.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

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

The purpose of the Small Public Service Vehicle (Emergency Measure Covid-19) (Fees) Regulations 2021 is to temporarily amend Schedule 1 of the Taxi Regulation (Small Public Service Vehicle) Regulations 2015 ( SI. No. 33 of 2015 ), Fees. These amendments are made as exceptional provisions and emergency measures resultant from the Covid-19 pandemic, noting that public transport, specifically including small public service vehicles, is deemed by Government to be an essential service. The amendments of the Schedule are time bound, adjusting on the dates set out above. For the period to 31 December 2022, these Regulations waive the fees payable in respect of the renewal of a small public service vehicle licence completed prior to the expiry date of the prior licence. For the period to 30 June 2022, these Regulations waive the late renewal fees in respect of replacement licences granted within 12 months of the expiry date of the prior licence. For the period 01 July to 31 December 2022, these Regulations replace the late renewal fees in respect of replacement licences granted within 12 months of the expiry date of the prior licence with late renewal fees of €150 and €75.