About this SPSV Bulletin
Welcome to the National Transport Authority’s (NTA) 2022 SPSV Statistical Bulletin on the small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector. It focuses on statistics for all SPSV categories (taxis, hackneys and limousines) and SPSV drivers along with NTA’s activities as a regulator.
What is a small public service vehicle (SPSV)?
In Ireland, SPSVs are public transport vehicles with seating for up to eight passengers in addition to the driver. There are three categories of SPSV:
- Taxi (standard and wheelchair accessible). A public hire vehicle licensed to stand or ply for hire on a street. All vehicles must be fitted with a taximeter, roof sign and have approved branding applied.
- Hackney (standard, wheelchair accessible and local area). A private hire vehicle, must be pre-booked and the fare agreed in advance.
- Limousine. A private hire vehicle, must be pre-booked and fare the agreed in advance.
What regulations cover the SPSV sector?
The sector is regulated under the following acts and laws:
- The Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 and 2016
- The Taxi Regulation (Small Public Service Vehicle) Regulations 2015
- Small Public Service Vehicle (Emergency Measure Covid-19) (Expired Licence) Regulations 2021
- The Taxi Regulation (Maximum Fares Order) 2022
- Small Public Service Vehicle (Cashless Payment Facility) Regulations 2022
- Small Public Service Vehicle (Fixed Payment Offences and Driver Licence Period) Regulations 2022
- Small Public Service Vehicle (Contingency Measure – Vehicle Supply) (Maximum Permissible Age) Regulations 2022
Public safety is at the centre of all SPSV regulation. This includes, but is not limited to, providing a public register for all licensed SPSV vehicles and drivers. This allows members of the public to check the details of the SPSV vehicle and/or driver to ensure both are fully licensed in accordance with legal requirements. Here, “fully licensed” means the vehicle has been inspected for roadworthiness by the National Car Testing Service (NCT) and for suitability to provide passenger services by NTA at least once in the previous year, and that it is driven by a driver who has been vetted by An Garda Síochána. It also means NTA has seen the relevant insurance documentation at least once a year.
To operate as an SPSV:
- The vehicle must be licensed as an SPSV having passed the required inspections; and
- The driver must have an An Garda Síochána issued SPSV driver licence along with a valid standard driving licence.
