Public Consultation on Draft Small Public Service Vehicle (Emergency Measure COVID-19) (Fees) Regulations 2021
NTA is responsible for regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry in Ireland. As part of this regulatory function, and in accordance with Section 7, Licensing regulations, of the Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 & 2016, NTA may make regulations in relation to the fees charged in respect of applications for licences and other matters relating to licences.
Schedule 1 to the Taxi Regulation (Small Public Service Vehicle) Regulations 2015 specifies the fees payable in respect of the renewal of an SPSV licence for both six and twelve month licence periods. The annual SPSV licence renewal fee currently stands at €150 for non–wheelchair accessible vehicles and €75 for wheelchair accessible vehicles, however licences held in respect of vehicles which have reached their 10th anniversary of initial registration, must be renewed every six months at pro-rata rates.
As at 31 May 2021, the SPSV fleet comprised 21,828 taxis, hackneys and limousines in active and inactive licence status (i.e. eligible to be renewed). NTA temporarily waived standard renewal fees for 2021. To further assist the SPSV industry, which has been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to retain a supply of SPSVs for the travelling public nationwide in the future, the Minister for Transport has advised that funding will be made available to NTA to waive standard vehicle licence renewal fees for the calendar year 2022. The intention of the 2022 renewal fee waiver is to keep operators attached to the industry through financial assistance, supplemented with regulatory, technical and health guidance measures.
The purpose of the Draft Small Public Service Vehicle (Emergency Measure COVID-19) (Fees) Regulations 2021 is to give effect to a renewal fee waiver by temporarily amending the renewal fees referenced in Schedule 1 to the Taxi Regulation (Small Public Service Vehicle) Regulations 2015 through a standalone, time bound clause for the calendar year 2022. This amendment is intended to be made as an exceptional provision and emergency measure resultant from the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that public transport, specifically including small public service vehicles, is deemed by Government an essential service.
The terms and conditions applicable to SPSV inspections including those governing cancellations and no-shows, will also be amended in light of the Draft Small Public Service Vehicle (Emergency Measure COVID-19) (Fees) Regulations 2021.
NTA temporarily waived late renewal fees (up to €500) from 28 March 2020 to 12 June 2021. After this date, a reduced late renewal fee was to be payable in respect of renewing an expired SPSV licence until 31 December 2021. If these Draft Small Public Service Vehicle (Emergency Measure COVID-19) (Fees) Regulations 2021 are approved, this waiver date for late fees will move to 30 June 2022, after which date, a reduced late renewal fee will be payable in respect of renewing an expired SPSV licence until 31 December 2022. SPSV licensing fees will revert to those set out in the Taxi Regulation (Small Public Service Vehicle) Regulations 2015 for all renewal fees on 01 January 2023.
Currently SPSV licences must be renewed within 12 months of the licence entering an expired status. A separate consultation is underway to extend this period to 24 months.
As part of this assistance package, SPSV Motor Tax and initial NCT fees will also be funded by the State for a 12 month period.
Please also visit the Public Consultation on Draft Small Public Service Vehicle (Emergency Measure COVID-19) (Expired Licence) Regulations 2021 which propose to double the period (to 24 months) that taxi, hackney and limousine licences may rest in inactive status after expiry prior to losing the capacity to be reactivated.
Public Consultation on Draft Small Public Service Vehicle (Emergency Measure COVID-19) (Fees) Regulations 2021
Thank you for expressing your interest in the Public Consultation on Draft Small Public Service Vehicle (Emergency Measure COVID-19) (Fees) Regulations 2021. The closing date for submissions was 17:00 on Friday, 9 July 2021.
Please note that given the volume of submissions received comments or queries will not be responded to on an individual basis. All submissions must include the full name and email address of the person making the submission.
NTA is subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2014 and, therefore, must consider any request for information made under that Act. Any submissions received may be published.