Advisory Committee on SPSVs

Advisory Committee on Small Public Service Vehicles

The Advisory Committee on Small Public Service Vehicles, commonly referred to as the Taxi Advisory Committee, is an independent body established and operated under the provisions of Section 72 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. Its primary function is to provide advice to the Authority and to the Minister for Transport, as appropriate, in relation to issues relevant to small public service vehicles and their drivers.

Small public service vehicles comprise taxis, hackneys and limousines.

Small public service vehicles comprise taxis, hackneys and limousines. Under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013, the Authority is the licensing authority in respect of small public service vehicles, while An Garda Síochána is the licensing authority for drivers of small public service vehicles. In addition, the Authority administers certain of the procedural aspects of the driver licensing function, for example the testing of prospective drivers’ industry knowledge and area knowledge.

Functions of the Advisory Committee on Small Public Service Vehicles and legislative provisions

Section 73 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 provides specifically that the Advisory Committee on Small Public Service Vehicles may provide advice from time to time:

1. to the Authority in relation to:
   1. proposals for licensing or regulations or codes of practice related to small public service vehicles and their drivers, submitted by the Authority to the Advisory Committee on Small Public Service Vehicles for advice;
   2. matters relating to the delivery of quality services by small public service vehicles and their drivers;
   3. the preparation and review of the draft integrated implementation plan under section 13 of the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 in relation to issues relevant to the small public service vehicle industry; and
   4. any other matters related to the functions of the Authority or which the Authority submits to the Advisory Committee on Small Public Service Vehicles for advice, other than matters related to decisions of the Authority in individual cases,
2. and to the Minister in relation to—
   1. policy relevant to small public service vehicles and their drivers;
   2. proposals for legislation or regulations in relation to the small public service vehicle industry submitted by the Minister to the Advisory Committee on Small Public Service Vehicles for advice;
   3. the assignment of specific functions relating to small public service vehicles and their drivers to the Authority; and
   4. any other matter which, in the opinion of the Advisory Committee on Small Public Service Vehicles, is relevant to the effective performance by the Advisory Committee on Small Public Service Vehicles or by the Authority of its functions or which the Minister submits to the Advisory Committee on Small Public Service Vehicles for advice.

The Authority may seek the advice of the Advisory Committee on Small Public Service Vehicle

The Taxi Regulation Act 2013 also provides that the Authority may consult with or seek the advice of the Advisory Committee on Small Public Service Vehicles on any matter relating to small public service vehicles and their drivers or to the effective performance by the Authority of its functions. Additionally, it provides that the Minister may consult with or seek the advice of the Advisory Committee on Small Public Service Vehicles on any matter arising in relation to his or her functions with respect to small public service vehicles and their drivers.

Membership of the Advisory Committee on Small Public Service Vehicles

The Advisory Committee on Small Public Service Vehicles comprises a chairperson and 17 ordinary members. Section 72(4) provides for specific sectoral interests to be represented on the Advisory Committee on Small Public Service Vehicles, in addition to a number of people who have a special interest or expertise in matters relating to the functions of the Authority, the Advisory Committee on Small Public Service Vehicles or related matters.