S.I. No. 33/2015 - Taxi Regulation (Small Public Service Vehicle) Regulations 2015

• (7) Where a small public service vehicle has been adapted to operate using liquefied petroleum gas or compressed natural gas, whether in addition to an existing means of propulsion or otherwise, the small public service vehicle licence holder shall provide a technical assessor’s LPG report confirming that the gas adaptation for the vehicle (referenced by its VIN) complies with the relevant Construction, Equipment and Use Regulations.

• (8) The technical assessor’s report referred to in paragraph (7) shall be provided to the Authority at the next following vehicle assessment on licence renewal in accordance with Regulation 14(2).

• (9) Where a small public service vehicle is modified in respect of any of the matters contemplated by this Regulation, the small public service vehicle licence holder shall, within ten days of such modification being carried out—

• (a) notify the Authority in writing of such modification, and

• (b) furnish the relevant technical assessor’s report to the Authority, as would be required for a licence renewal application in respect of such vehicle, in accordance with this Regulation.

Prohibition on fitment of taximeter

Maximum permissible age requirements

• (a) standard taxi, standard hackney or local area hackney is ten years from the date of first registration of the vehicle, and

• (b) wheelchair accessible taxi or wheelchair accessible hackney is fifteen years from the date of first registration of the vehicle.

• (2) Where a vehicle is associated with a standard taxi licence or standard hackney licence first granted before 1 January 2009 and was associated with such licence on 1 January 2013, the maximum permissible age of such vehicle is fifteen years from the date of first registration of the vehicle.

• (3) This Regulation does not apply to—

• (a) limousines, or

• (b) a wheelchair accessible taxi or wheelchair accessible hackney that is associated with the small public service vehicle licence on 1 April 2014.

Mutual recognition

• (a) a relevant standard or code of practice of a national standards body or equivalent body of any EEA State,

• (b) any relevant international standard recognised for use in any EEA State, or

• (c) any relevant technical regulation with mandatory or de facto mandatory application for marketing or use in any EEA State,

insofar as the standard, code of practice, technical regulation or process in question enables the protection of the health and safety of passengers and drivers and the promotion of accessible services for passengers with disabilities to be met in an equivalent manner.

Prohibition on certain vehicles

• (2) In the event of a conflict between Regulation 32 and Regulation 33(1), Regulation 33(1) shall prevail.

Determination of passenger seating capacity

• (2) Seating positions for the purposes of paragraph (1) shall be determined by reference to the following—

• (a) a minimum seat squab width of 400 millimetres is required in respect of each seating position,

• (b) a seating position fitted with a safety belt is reckoned as one seating position,

• (c) in relation to a bench seat without a safety belt, the number of seating positions shall be assessed as a multiple of the required minimum squab width of 400 millimetres in respect of each position, and

• (d) in relation to a wheelchair accessible vehicle each wheelchair space is reckoned as one seating position.

• (3) In the case of a small public service vehicle that can accommodate more than eight seating positions, excluding the driver’s seat, the holder of the small public service vehicle licence shall permanently disable, or cause to be permanently disabled, any seating positions in the vehicle in excess of eight, excluding the driver’s seat.

PART 5 DUTIES OF HOLDERS OF WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE HACKNEY LICENCES AND WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE TAXI LICENCES

Information to be provided to the Authority

• (a) the names of any persons, including the licence holder, driving or using the vehicle to carry passengers for reward,

• (b) all contact details available for the purposes of making a booking in respect of the vehicle,

• (c) the areas of the State in which the licence holder drives or uses the vehicle to carry passengers for reward, and

• (d) the days and times during which the licence holder makes the vehicle to available to carry passengers for reward.

• (2) The Authority may use or publicise the information provided under paragraph (1), and any similar information provided by the licence holder as part of his or her licence application under Part 3 of these Regulations, to assist consumers who wish to avail of, or to book, a wheelchair accessible taxi or wheelchair accessible hackney.

• (3) The Authority may seek further information in relation to any of the information provided by a licence holder under paragraph (1) and the licence holder shall promptly provide such further information upon request by the Authority.

• (4) Where there is a subsequent change to any of the information provided to the Authority under—

• (a) paragraph (1) of this Regulation,

• (b) Regulation 13(2)(b),

• (c) Regulation 14(2)(a)(vii), or

• (d) Regulation 16(2)(c),

the licence holder shall promptly provide details of such change to the Authority.

Maintenance of records of bookings

• (2) The records referred to in paragraph (1) shall include—

• (a) the date and time of the booking,

• (b) the name and contact details of the person making the booking,

• (c) the name and contact details of the person intending to travel,

• (d) the destination of the journey booked,

• (e) the time at which the fare commenced, and

• (f) the time at which the destination was arrived at.

• (3) The holder of a wheelchair accessible taxi licence or wheelchair accessible hackney licence shall promptly, and, in any event, within such period as may be specified by the Authority, following a request from the Authority make available for inspection, in such form and manner as may be required by the Authority, the records referred to in this Regulation.

• (4) Each record created by a licence holder under this Regulation shall be retained for a period of not less than one year from the date of its creation.

Priority to persons with disabilities

PART 6 DUTIES OF DRIVERS OF SMALL PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES

Duties of drivers of small public service vehicles

• (a) carry such persons and luggage and drive the vehicle to such places as the hirer may reasonably direct,

• (b) proceed at a reasonable speed while so driving, and

• (c) wait with the vehicle at such places and for such lengths of time as the hirer may reasonably direct.

• (2) Where a passenger requests the driver of a taxi to drive to a specified place and, having arrived at that specified place, requests the driver to drive to another specified place, it shall be the duty of the driver to comply with such latter request unless such passenger fails to—

• (a) tender the lawful fare in respect of the completed part of the journey, or

• (b) prove to the reasonable satisfaction of the driver that he or she will pay the lawful fare for the total journey on being so required by the driver.

• (3) Where a passenger or intending passenger of a small public service vehicle makes an advance payment in respect of services not yet rendered, the driver of the vehicle shall—

• (a) perform those services immediately unless the driver is—

• (i) directed otherwise by such passenger or intending passenger, or

• (ii) reasonably prevented from performing the services,

• (b) hold such payment as a deposit,

• (c) only retain the lawful fare in respect of any services performed, and

• (d) having retained the lawful fare for any services performed, repay any outstanding balance to the passenger or intending passenger.

• (4) The driver of a small public service vehicle, where such vehicle is being operated for the carriage of passengers for reward or, in the case of a taxi, when standing or plying for hire, shall—

• (a) comply with the reasonable requirements of any passenger or intending passenger,

• (b) provide all reasonable assistance and information to any person having authority to examine the vehicle,

• (c) take all reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of persons in, on, entering or alighting from the vehicle,

• (d) not invite or allow any person to travel in the vehicle without the consent of the person hiring the vehicle,

• (e) switch on the light to illuminate the interior of the vehicle when requested to do so by a passenger provided such illumination does not interfere with the safe driving of the vehicle,

• (f) when requested by a person who has hired the vehicle, afford reasonable assistance in loading and unloading luggage and in removing luggage to or from the entrance of any house, station or place at which the driver takes up or sets down such person, and

• (g) carry and have available for inspection his or her SPSV Driver’s Identity Card while so operating or standing or plying for hire

• (5) The driver of a small public service vehicle licence shall not while standing or plying for hire or carrying passengers for reward—

• (a) act in a manner that is abusive, threatening or offensive to any passenger or intending passenger,

• (b) act in a manner that is a nuisance or a danger to any person,

• (c) use any threatening, obscene or offensive language or make any threatening, obscene or offensive gesture to any person, or

• (d) discriminate (within the meaning of section 3 or 4 (1) of the Equal Status Act 2000 ) against any passenger or intending passenger.

Guide and other assistance dogs

• (2) The driver of a small public service vehicle may refuse to carry a guide dog or other assistance dog in his or her vehicle where that driver has provided prior evidence to the Authority, in form and substance satisfactory to the Authority, that the driver is unable, for medical reasons, to carry a dog in his or her vehicle.

PART 7 OPERATING REQUIREMENTS

Maximum hours of operation

Limitation on number of passengers

Unfit vehicles and vehicle standards

• (2) A person shall not drive or use a small public service vehicle for the carriage, or the intended carriage, of passengers for reward unless the vehicle meets the requirements of Part 4 of these Regulations applicable to a vehicle of the relevant vehicle licence category.

Carriage of dangerous substances

• (2) Paragraph (1) of this Regulation shall not operate so as to prohibit the carriage in a small public service vehicle of—

• (a) fuel and lubricant necessary for the vehicle,

• (b) any substance which is carried in containers so designed and constructed or which is so packed that in the event of an accident it is unlikely to cause damage or injury to the vehicle or to persons carried therein, or

• (c) a firearm carried by a member of the Defence Forces or of the Garda Síochána.

Tamper proof disc

• (2) In the case of a limousine, the Authority may waive the requirement to have a valid tamper-proof disc affixed to the rear window of the vehicle.

• (3) Subject to section 17 of the Principal Act, a person shall not, without the prior consent of the Authority, remove or attempt to remove, damage or otherwise interfere with a tamper-proof disc affixed to a small public service vehicle in accordance with this Regulation.

• (4) A tamper-proof disc issued by the Authority shall at all times remain the property of the Authority.

In-vehicle information

• (2) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), the driver of a small public service vehicle shall display in-vehicle information as the Authority may specify relating to the rights and obligations of consumers relevant to the class of small public service vehicle concerned.

• (3) A person shall not, without the prior consent of the Authority, remove or attempt to remove, damage or otherwise interfere with any in-vehicle information displayed in a small public service vehicle.

Taxi roof sign

• (2) A taxi roof sign referred to in paragraph (1) shall—

• (a) where the vehicle is standing or plying for hire, be illuminated by means of the internal electric light installation, and

• (b) where the vehicle has been hired by a passenger or intending passenger, not be illuminated.

• (3) Where a passenger or intending passenger has given his or her prior consent and the journey is likely to exceed 30 kilometres, the taxi roof sign may be positioned longitudinally on the roof of the vehicle.

• (4) A person shall not affix a taxi roof sign to a vehicle being driven or used in a public place unless the vehicle is a taxi being driven or used for the carriage, or for the intended carriage, of passengers for reward.

Driver identification

• (2) The SPSV Driver Display Card referred to in paragraph (1) shall contain the following information—

• (a) the name of the driver,

• (b) a photograph of the driver,

• (c) the licence number of the driver’s licence to drive small public service vehicles,

• (d) the expiry date of the driver’s licence to drive small public service vehicles,

• (e) on the side of the card facing the front of the vehicle, the area or areas in respect of which the driver is authorised to stand or ply for hire,

• (f) such security features as may be determined by the Authority, and

• (g) such other relevant information as the Authority may from time to time determine.

Prohibition on advertising

• (2) The holder of a small public service vehicle licence shall not permit the use of any electronic advertising sign in or on the vehicle associated with the licence such that it is visible from the exterior of the vehicle unless such sign has been approved in writing by the Authority.

• (3) A person shall not display, or permit the display of, any sign, symbol or advertisement in or on a small public service vehicle that contains threatening, discriminatory, obscene or offensive words or images.

• (4) The holder of a taxi licence shall not display, or permit the display of, any sign or advertisement on the front doors of the vehicle associated with the licence other than the signage specified in Schedule 6.

• (5) The holder of a taxi licence shall not display, or permit the display of, any sign or advertisement on the side doors (other than the front doors) of the vehicle associated with the licence—

• (a) where the sign or advertisement is greater than 1,600 square centimetres in area, or

• (b) where, in the case of more than one sign or advertisement on a door, the combined area of such signs or advertisements is greater than 1,600 square centimetres in area.

• (6) The holder of a small public service vehicle licence shall not display, or permit the display of, any sign or advertisement on the exterior of the vehicle, or on the interior such that it is visible from the exterior of the vehicle, in relation to payment by credit or debit cards other than the sign set out in paragraph 19(j) of Schedule 2.

• (7) The holder of a small public service vehicle licence shall not display, or permit the display of, on the exterior of the vehicle, or on the interior such that it is visible from the exterior of the vehicle, signs providing names, details or logos of industry representative groups.

Operation of small public service vehicle by another person

• (a) is satisfied that the proposed driver holds a licence to drive small public service vehicles,

• (b) provides, and maintains, insurance provided by a vehicle insurer (within the meaning of section 58 of the Act of 1961) in respect of passengers carried for reward by the proposed driver in such vehicle,

• (c) keeps a written record of—

• (i) the name and address of any persons who drive the vehicle for the carriage of passengers for reward,

• (ii) the periods of use of the vehicle by any persons referred to in sub-paragraph (c)(i), and

• (iii) the details of the small public service vehicle driver licence of any persons referred to in sub-paragraph (c)(i), including the licence numbers and expiry dates thereof, and

• (d) promptly makes available to the Authority, at the request of the Authority, the records referred to in sub-paragraph (c) or copies thereof.

Rental or lease of small public service vehicle to another person

• (a) is satisfied that the proposed driver holds a licence to drive small public service vehicles,

• (b) provides, and maintains, during the period of such rental, leasing or similar arrangement insurance provided by a vehicle insurer (within the meaning of section 58 of the Act of 1961) in respect of passengers carried for reward by the proposed driver in such vehicle,

• (c) in the case of a taxi, ensures that the vehicle is fitted with a taximeter in accordance with Regulation 53,

• (d) ensures that at the commencement of the rental, leasing or similar arrangement, the vehicle meets any requirements in relation to vehicle standards contemplated by these Regulations,

• (e) prior to the proposed driving or use of the vehicle by another person pursuant to a rental, leasing or similar arrangement, notifies the Authority of—

• (i) the period of arrangement, and

• (ii) the identity of the other party or parties to the arrangement,

• (f) in the case of an applicant who is a non-national, obtains a written declaration by such person that the conditions of his or her permission do not preclude him or her from operating a business or being self-employed in the State,

• (g) holds—

• (i) a copy of the licence referred to in sub-paragraph (a),

• (ii) evidence of the insurance referred to in sub-paragraph (b) and

• (iii) evidence that the conditions of the permission referred to in sub-paragraph (f) do not preclude him or her from operating a business or being self-employed in the State, and

• (h) at the request of the Authority, promptly provides a copy of the records referred to in sub-paragraph (g) and any written agreement evidencing the rental, leasing or similar arrangement.

Notification of driving of a small public service vehicle

• (2) A notification under paragraph (1) shall be accompanied by such information as the Authority may determine in relation to the vehicle including, without limitation, identification details of the vehicle and the proposed period of operation of the vehicle.

• (3) A notification made by a licence holder under paragraph (1) in respect of a vehicle shall expire, and shall no longer be valid in respect of such vehicle, upon the licence holder making a subsequent notification to the Authority in relation to a different vehicle.

• (4) A person shall not knowingly make a false or misleading notification under this Regulation.

PART 8 COMMENCEMENT OF HIRE AND PAYMENT OF FARES

Commencement of hire and standing for hire

• (2) The hiring of a pre-booked small public service vehicle shall commence at the time and place agreed with the person who pre-booked the vehicle.

Taximeter

• (2) A person shall not drive or operate a taxi for the carriage of persons for reward unless—

• (a) a taximeter is fitted to the vehicle in accordance with paragraph (1),

• (b) the taximeter so fitted to the vehicle has been calibrated in accordance with Regulation 54, and

• (c) when carrying a person for reward, the taximeter so fitted to the vehicle is engaged and is recording and calculating the fare in respect of the journey.

• (3) The driver of a taxi shall not cause or permit the taximeter fitted to such vehicle to be engaged while the vehicle is standing or plying for hire.

• (4) Except where there is a prior written agreement between the driver or operator of a taxi and the passenger confirming—

• (a) the charge for the pre-booked service, and

• (b) that the passenger waives his or her right to have the fare calculated using the taximeter,

all fares in respect of journeys undertaken by a taxi shall be calculated using a taximeter fitted and calibrated in accordance with these Regulations. Where there is such a prior written agreement the driver shall charge the passenger the lessor of the pre-agreed charge or the charge calculated on the taximeter fitted, calibrated and engaged in accordance with paragraph (2) above.

• (5) The driver or operator of a taxi and any dispatch operator in respect of which the taxi is affiliated—

• (a) shall not impose a minimum fare value as a condition of payment of the taxi fare by credit card or debit card, and

• (b) shall, if requested by the passenger or intending passenger, accept payment in cash in respect of such taxi fare.

Calibration of taximeters to reflect maximum fares order

• (b) Subject to the Metrology Act 1996 , except for a period of 90 days prior to the coming into operation of a new maximum fares order, a person shall not drive or operate a taxi for the carriage of persons for reward unless the taximeter fitted in the taxi has been verified by the Legal Metrology Service as being correctly calibrated in accordance with the maximum fares order.

Booking fee

• (a) while plying for hire or standing for hire, or

• (b) without having been booked in advance by the consumer, at any location including an airport or other transport station or terminal.

Taxi receipts

• (2) A receipt referred to in paragraph (1) shall contain at least the following information—

• (a) the total fare payable in respect of the hire,

• (b) an itemised breakdown of any extra charges lawfully payable,

• (c) the date, starting time and finishing time of the hire,

• (d) the total distance travelled in kilometres (stated to at least one decimal place),

• (e) the small public service vehicle licence number of the vehicle,

• (f) the unique identification mark (registration number) of the vehicle,

• (g) the receipt number (in sequential order),

• (h) a reasonable space headed “Tips/Discounts/Tolls”, and

• (i) such other information as may be determined by the Authority.

Hackney and limousine receipts

• (a) a passenger avails of a pre-existing payment account, or

• (b) a limousine is hired as part of a wedding or funeral service,

the driver of a hackney or limousine shall, upon completion of the journey, make available a receipt to the passenger in accordance with paragraph (2).

• (2) A receipt referred to in paragraph (1) shall contain at least the following information—

• (a) the receipt number,

• (b) the unique identification mark (registration number) of the vehicle,

• (c) the small public service vehicle licence number of the vehicle,

• (d) the date,

• (e) the amount charged in respect of the journey, and

• (f) such other information as may be determined by the Authority.

Area knowledge

• (2) It is a condition of a licence to drive a small public service vehicle that the holder of such licence to drive a small public service vehicle has adequate knowledge of the area in which he or she is licensed to stand or ply for hire.

• (3) If requested by the Authority, the holder of a licence to drive a small public service vehicle shall provide evidence, in form and substance satisfactory to the Authority, that he or she has adequate knowledge of the area in which he or she is licensed to stand or ply for hire.

Hire of hackney or limousine

• (a) the points of commencement and completion of the hire,

• (b) the name of the person who hired the vehicle,

• (c) the contact details of the person referred to in sub-paragraph (b), and

• (d) the fare agreed for the hire.

• (2) The booking record referred to in paragraph (1) shall be made available for inspection by the person who hired the vehicle on request.

PART 9 LICENSING OF DISPATCH OPERATORS

Requirement for dispatch operators to be licensed

Grant of dispatch operator licence

• (a) produces a valid tax clearance certificate for the time being in force in respect of the applicant under section 1095 (inserted by section 127 of the Finance Act 2002 ) of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 ,

• (b) provides to the Authority the contact information used for the purposes of making or receiving bookings in relation to drivers affiliated with the dispatch operator or person providing the booking services including details of any trading name being used or proposed to be used by the applicant, and

• (c) pays to the Authority the appropriate fee specified in Schedule 1.

Period of validity of dispatch operator licence

• (a) the expiry of a period of twelve months from the date of its grant or renewal under Regulation 61,

• (b) the surrender of the licence by the licence holder, and

• (c) the revocation of the licence under the Principal Act.

Obligations of dispatch operators

• (a) the driver holds a licence to drive small public service vehicles, and

• (b) there is a small public service vehicle licence in force in respect of the vehicle to be used by the driver to provide the services.

• (2) A dispatch operator or provider of a booking service shall maintain a complete and up-to-date list of all vehicles and driver licences in respect of which he or she is providing a booking service and shall make such list available to the Authority promptly upon request.

• (3) A person shall not promote, offer or advertise, or procure the promotion, offer or advertising of, a service for the booking of a small public service vehicle for hire unless such person holds a dispatch operator licence.

• (4) A dispatch operator or provider of a booking service shall put in place a consumer complaints procedure to effectively address any complaints received from users of the booking service and shall provide details of such procedure available to the Authority promptly upon request.

• (5) A dispatch operator or provider of a booking service shall put in place a record management procedure in relation to any bookings and complaints received and shall make such records available to the Authority promptly upon request.

• (6) A dispatch operator or provider of a booking service shall notify the Authority of any change of name or address associated with his or her dispatch operator licence, including a change to any trading name used in relation to the services, within fourteen days of such change.

PART 10 PENALTIES

Penal regulations

Substantial breach of regulations

Prescribed amount of fixed payment

Form of fixed payment notice

SCHEDULE 1 Fees

(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.

(a)€150 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)€75 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)€500 in respect of replacement licences granted after the expiry date of the prior licence provided that—

• (i) where the licence is replaced not more than 10 days after the date of expiry of the licence, the Authority shall refund €250 to the applicant, and

• (ii) where the licence is replaced more than 10 days but not more than 30 days after the date of expiry of the licence, the Authority shall refund €150 to the applicant,

(a)€75 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)€37.50 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)€250 in respect of replacement licences granted after the expiry date of the prior licence provided that —where the licence is replaced not more than 10 days after the date of expiry of the licence, the Authority shall refund €100 to the applicant.

(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.

Regulations 24 and 29

SCHEDULE 2 General Vehicle Requirements for Taxis

Vehicle Weight and General Characteristics

Wheel Arrangement

Tyre Load Rating

Doors

• (2) All doors shall be operable from inside or outside the vehicle by a passenger provided that a door may be automatically locked while the vehicle is in motion subject to it automatically unlocking once the vehicle becomes stationary.

Bull Bars

Windows

• (2) The windows shall be in a clean condition.

• (3) Except for a band of a maximum of 125 millimetres in depth at the top upper edge, the front windscreen of a small public service vehicle shall exhibit 70 per cent minimum visible light transmission.

• (4) Subject to (5) below, where a passenger seating position or a wheelchair space is adjacent to a window (other than the front windscreen and the rear windscreen of such vehicle), such window shall exhibit 70 per cent minimum visible light transmission.

• (5) The requirements in (4) above shall not apply in respect of a vehicle associated to a taxi licence first granted before 8 June 2010 where the vehicle was associated with such licence on 1 January 2013.

Cleanliness

Seating Quality

Exterior Paint

Luggage Area

Passenger Compartment Temperature

Safety Equipment and Communications

• (a) subject to paragraph (2) a spare wheel system,

• (b) a first-aid kit, being a within date first aid kit complying with DIN (Deutsches Institut fur Normung) 13164 or comparable travel kit recommended by the Health and Safety Authority,

• (c) a fire extinguisher, meaning a fire extinguisher in serviceable condition complying with EN3 and suitable for inflammability classes A, B and C, with a minimum capacity of 2 kilogrammes of dry powder or an equivalent capacity for any other suitable extinguishing agent,

• (d) a reflective advance warning triangle to standard ECE Regulation 27,

• (e) a high visibility reflective safety vest to standard ANSI 107, BS EN 471 or CEN 471 or equivalent,

• (f) a working handheld torch, and

• (g) a pen and paper.

• (2) The Authority may reduce the requirements of paragraph (1)(a) where the vehicle concerned is a series production electric vehicle, a series production hybrid electric vehicle, a series production flexible fuel vehicle or a series production plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or a vehicle adapted for liquefied petroleum gas or compressed natural gas.

Interior Lighting

Side Facing Seats

Vehicle Roof

Luggage Capacity

• (a) the vehicle shall have accommodation for safely transporting luggage of minimum total volume of 420 litres, as measured by the VDA method when all passenger seats are in compliance with paragraph 18 of this Schedule 2,

• (b) a guard or cover shall be fitted to any luggage compartment referred to in paragraph (a) capable of preventing luggage from causing injury to any passenger in the event of an accident, and

• (c) a space consisting of the minimum box dimensions 735 millimetres x 330 millimetres x 805 millimetres shall be provided within the luggage volume specified at paragraph (a) to accommodate a folded wheelchair.

• (2) Where a vehicle is associated with a standard taxi licence first granted before 1 January 2009, or a wheelchair accessible taxi licence first granted before 8 June 2010, and was associated to that licence on 1 January 2013, such vehicle shall have provision for a reasonable quantity of luggage relative to the number of seating positions.

• (3) The Authority may reduce the requirements of paragraph (1)(a) where the vehicle concerned is a series production electric vehicle, a series production hybrid electric vehicle, a series production flexible fuel vehicle or a series production plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or a vehicle adapted for liquefied petroleum gas or compressed natural gas.

Passenger Seats General Requirements

• (a) have a minimum squab width of 400 millimetres, and

• (b) shall be firmly and securely fixed in the vehicle when in a position for passenger occupation.

Passenger Seats / Space

• (a) the top of any uncompressed front passenger seat squab shall be at least 275 millimetres from the floor of the vehicle,

• (b) the top of any uncompressed passenger seat squab other that a front passenger seat squab shall be at least 275 millimetres and not more than 460 millimetres from the vehicle floor at the front of the squab,

• (c) there shall be at least 650 millimetres measured longitudinally and horizontally from the front face of the backrest at uncompressed squab height to the rear face of the seat or the surface immediately in front of the seat,

• (d) where seats face each other, there shall be at least 1300 millimetres measured longitudinally and horizontally between the front faces of the opposing backrests at uncompressed squab height, and

• (e) the shoulder room of at least one row of rear seats shall be a minimum of 1,360 millimetres.

Taxi Roof Sign

• (a) the taxi roof sign shall be constructed of a durable material, be weatherproof and capable 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 to be part of its construction,

• (b) the dimensions of the taxi roof sign shall be such that the surface of the taxi roof 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,

• (c) the front and rear faces of the taxi roof sign shall each be divided into three sections,

• (d) the central sections on each face of the taxi roof 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,

• (e) the sections of the taxi roof 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,—

• (i) 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

• (ii) 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”,

• (f) no letter or numeral displayed on the remaining sections of each face of the taxi roof sign shall exceed 70 millimetres in height,

• (g) the taxi sign shall be capable of being lit by means of an internal electric light installation to enable the licence number to be readily identifiable,

• (h) when lit, the taxi roof sign shall not show a red light to the front or a white light to the rear,

• (i) when lit, the taxi roof 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,

• (j) the panel on the right of the taxi roof sign as viewed from the rear of the vehicle and on the left of the taxi roof sign as viewed from the front of the vehicle shall contain only—

• (i) the county identification(s) for those areas in which the driver of that vehicle, has been authorised as having appropriate area knowledge to stand or ply for hire, which identification(s) shall comprise such content and security features and be of such dimensions as are determined by the Authority,

• (ii) contact details—

• (A) in relation to the taxi, or

• (B) in relation to the dispatch operator or the booking service through which the taxi may be booked or arranged,

• (iii) where the vehicle is a wheelchair accessible taxi, the following symbol or a substantially similar symbol, which symbol shall be approximately 90mm in height—

• (iv) where the driver accepts payment by credit or debit card, a sign approximately 90mm x 90mm in size of the design below, in the colours blue (Pantone reference 534) and green (Pantone reference 382) as indicated may be displayed,

• (k) the colour of any blank sections of the panel on the right of the taxi roof sign as viewed from the rear of the vehicle or on the left of the taxi roof sign as viewed from the front of the vehicle shall be yellow,

• (l) a taxi sign shall at no time be so defaced, obscured or altered in such a manner that the word “TAXI” or “TACSAÍ” or the licence number is rendered illegible or partly illegible,

• (m) the taxi sign light shall be capable of being switched on when the vehicle is available for hire and shall accordingly be wired independently of the ignition or the vehicle light switch,

• (n) no protrusions shall be placed on the vehicle roof which would or could obscure any part of the taxi roof sign when viewed from the front or the rear of the vehicle,

• (o) no advertising, symbols, text, lights or other equipment shall be placed on or attached to the taxi roof sign or the roof of the vehicle other than that specified in this Schedule 2, and

• (p) the taxi roof sign shall be capable of being easily removed from the vehicle.

Taximeter and Printer

• (a) securely attached to the vehicle so that the taximeter cannot be detached or caused to become inaccurate by the vibration of the engine or by the motion of the vehicle,

• (b) in such position on the vehicle as to enable a passenger inside the vehicle to easily see and read the taximeter,

• (c) have the transmitter cable connecting the taximeter with the wheels or the driving mechanism of the vehicle so situated and so protected by an outer cover as to render damage to the cable unlikely,

• (d) calibrated in accordance with the maximum fares order made by the Authority under section 24 of the Principal Act,

• (e) fitted with a device capable of printing automatically a receipt showing the details required in accordance with Regulation 56, and

• (f) be in good order, repair and condition, and fitted where required to be so fitted, with the official verification mark/seals signifying conformity with the Metrology Act 1996 (No. 27 of 1996).

Vehicle Branding

• (a) be affixed by a supplier authorised by the Authority;

• (b) be affixed in a semi-permanent manner that is not capable of being removed in the ordinary course;

• (c) be complete, in good condition and free from any significant blemish;

• (2) An approved external sign affixed to a taxi by an authorised supplier in accordance with paragraph (1) shall prior to being affixed to the vehicle, be customised by such authorised supplier by inserting the taxi licence number of the vehicle in the space marked “XXXXX” in the form of approved external sign specified in Part 1 or Part 2 of Schedule 6, as the case may be.

• (3) It is not permissible to affix magnetic signs of the form specified in Schedule 6, or resembling the form specified in Schedule 6, to the exterior doors of a vehicle.

Seat Structure Requirements

• (2) In respect of the renewal of a standard taxi licence relating to a vehicle associated with such licence on the date that these Regulations entered into force, the vehicle shall have safety belts, belt anchorages, seats, seat anchorages, seat mechanisms, and head restraints which comply with the relevant requirements of the Construction, Equipment and Use Regulations.

Modified Vehicles

Regulations 27 and 29

SCHEDULE 3 General Vehicle Requirements for Hackneys

Vehicle Weight and General Characteristics

Wheel Arrangement

Tyre Load Rating

Doors

• (2) All doors shall be operable from inside or outside the vehicle by a passenger provided that a door may be automatically locked while the vehicle is in motion subject to it automatically unlocking once the vehicle becomes stationary.

Bull Bars

Windows

• (2) All windows shall be clean.

• (3) Except for a band of a maximum of 125 millimetres in depth at the top upper edge, the front windscreen of a small public service vehicle shall exhibit 70 per cent minimum visible light transmission.

• (4) Subject to (5) below, where a passenger seating position or a wheelchair space is adjacent to a window (other than the front windscreen and the rear windscreen of such vehicle), such window shall exhibit 70 per cent minimum visible light transmission.

• (5) The requirements in (4) above shall not apply in respect of a vehicle associated to a standard hackney licence first granted before 1 January 2009 where the vehicle was associated with such licence on 1 January 2013.

Cleanliness

Seating Quality

Exterior Paint

Luggage Area

Passenger Compartment Temperature

Safety Equipment and Communications

• (a) subject to paragraph (2), a spare wheel system,

• (b) a first-aid kit, being a within date first aid kit complying with DIN (Deutsches Institut fur Normung) 13164 or comparable travel kit recommended by the Health and Safety Authority,

• (c) a fire extinguisher, meaning a fire extinguisher in serviceable condition complying with EN3 and suitable for inflammability classes A, B and C, with a minimum capacity of 2 kilogrammes of dry powder or an equivalent capacity for any other suitable extinguishing agent,

• (d) a reflective advance warning triangle to standard ECE Regulation 27,

• (e) a high visibility reflective safety vest to standard ANSI 107, BS EN 471 or CEN 471 or equivalent,

• (f) a working handheld torch, and

• (g) a pen and paper.

• (2) The Authority may reduce the requirements of paragraph (a) where the vehicle concerned is a series production electric vehicle, a series production hybrid electric vehicle, a series production flexible fuel vehicle or a series production plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or a vehicle adapted for liquefied petroleum gas or compressed natural gas.

Interior Lighting

Side Facing Seats

Vehicle Roof

Luggage Capacity

• (a) the vehicle shall have accommodation for safely transporting luggage of minimum total volume of 420 litres, as measured by the VDA method provided that passenger seats in excess of four may be exempted from the requirements of paragraph 18 of this Schedule for the purpose of such measurement,

• (b) a guard or cover shall be fitted to any luggage compartment referred to in paragraph (a) capable of preventing luggage from causing injury to any passenger in the event of an accident, and

• (c) a space consisting of the minimum box dimensions 735 millimetres x 330 millimetres x 805 millimetres shall be provided within the luggage volume specified at paragraph (a) to accommodate a folded wheelchair.

• (2) Where a vehicle is associated with a standard hackney licence first granted before 1 January 2009, and was associated to that licence on 1 January 2013, such vehicle shall have provision for a reasonable quantity of luggage relative to the number of seating positions.

• (3) The Authority may reduce the requirements of paragraphs (a) where the vehicle concerned is a series production electric vehicle, a series production hybrid electric vehicle, a series production flexible fuel vehicle or a series production plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or a vehicle adapted for liquefied petroleum gas or compressed natural gas.

Passenger Seats General Requirements

• (a) have a minimum squab width of 400 millimetres, and

• (b) shall be firmly and securely fixed in the vehicle when in a position for passenger occupation.

Passenger Seats / Space

• (a) the top of any uncompressed front passenger seat squab shall be at least 275 millimetres from the floor of the vehicle,

• (b) the top of any uncompressed passenger seat squab other that a front passenger seat squab shall be at least 275 millimetres and not more than 460 millimetres from the vehicle floor at the front of the squab,

• (c) there shall be at least 650 millimetres measured longitudinally and horizontally from the front face of the backrest at uncompressed squab height to the rear face of the seat or the surface immediately in front of the seat,

• (d) where seats face each other, there shall be at least 1300 millimetres measured longitudinally and horizontally between the front faces of the opposing backrests at uncompressed squab height, and

• (e) the shoulder room of at least one row of rear seats shall be a minimum of 1,360 millimetres.

Seat Structure Requirements

• (2) In respect of the renewal of a standard hackney licence relating to a vehicle associated with such licence on the date that these Regulations entered into force, the vehicle shall have safety belts, belt anchorages, seats, seat anchorages, seat mechanisms, and head restraints which comply with the relevant requirements of the Construction, Equipment and Use Regulations.

Modified Vehicles

Regulations 26, 27 and 29

SCHEDULE 4 Additional Requirements for Wheelchair Accessible Taxis and Wheelchair Accessible Hackneys

Vehicle Specification

• (2) In the case of a wheelchair accessible taxi, seats which are not in use in the configuration for the transport of an occupied wheelchair shall be capable of being folded or otherwise safely stowed in the vehicle.

Accessible Door Dimensions

• (a) The vehicle shall be fitted with—

• (i) at least one wheelchair accessible door aperture capable of being opened from inside and outside the vehicle, located to the nearside or rear of the vehicle, affording unrestricted access to the wheelchair space within the vehicle and of minimum unobstructed dimensions of 745 millimetres in width and 1,250 millimetres in opening height, and

• (ii) at least one other opening door that enables access from inside or outside to the passenger compartment,

• (b) the rear doors (vertically hinged) or tailgate (horizontally hinged) may be reckoned as an aperture referred to at subparagraph (a)(i) if the vehicle concerned was designed for rear wheelchair entry and the doors otherwise meet the dimensions specified therein, and

• (c) the rear doors (vertically hinged) or tailgate (horizontally hinged) may be reckoned as an access opening referred to at subparagraph (a) (ii).

Wheelchair Space Dimensions and Prohibitions

• (2) The wheelchair space in paragraph (1) shall be not less than 700 millimetres in width and 1,200 millimetres in length. Subject to paragraph (3), minimum headroom of 1,350 millimetres shall be provided in the vicinity of the wheelchair occupant’s head.

• (3) Where a vehicle is associated with a wheelchair accessible taxi licence first granted on or before 8 June 2010 and was associated to that licence on 1 January 2013, minimum headroom of 1,300 millimetres shall be provided in the vicinity of the wheelchair occupant’s head.

Seat Structural Requirements

• (2) In relation to a wheelchair accessible taxi licence first granted before 8 June 2010, and where the vehicle associated to the licence is the same vehicle as that which was associated to such licence on 1 January 2013, the vehicle shall have safety belts, belt anchorages, seats, seat anchorages, seat mechanisms, and head restraints that shall comply with the relevant requirements of the Construction, Equipment and Use Regulations.

Provision of Access Step

• (2) Where fitted, kneeling suspension may be lowered to reduce the normal ride attitude prior to any measurement of the passenger compartment floor height.

Access Step Requirements

• (2) The tread depth of an access step shall be at least 200 millimetres and the width of the step shall be at least 400 millimetres.

• (3) The height of the surface of an access step shall be no more than 230 millimetres from the ground, when the vehicle is at normal ride attitude.

• (4) The maximum slope of an access step in any direction shall not exceed 3o when the vehicle is at normal ride attitude.

• (5) An access step shall have clearly marked rounded nosings of not less than 40 millimetres in a bright colour contrasting to the colour scheme of the general interior.

• (6) While a wheelchair accessible vehicle is in motion, an access step shall not project more than 10 millimetres beyond the widest part (excluding mirrors) of the vehicle exterior.

• (7) The corners or supporting structures of an access step facing forwards or rearwards shall be rounded to a radius of not less than 5 millimetres and the edges of an access step shall be rounded to a radius of not less than 2.5 millimetres.

• (8) Subject to paragraph (7), the edges of an access step shall be rounded to a radius of not less than 2.5 millimetres.

• (9) Protruding parts of an access step made from a material of hardness not exceeding 60 shore A may have a radius of curvature of less than 2.5 millimetres.

• (10) An access step that has been certified as part of the EC Whole Vehicle Type Approval vehicle specification is deemed to have complied with the requirements referred to in paragraphs (5) to (8).

Access Step Integrity

• (a) in respect of an access step designed to take one person at a time, a mass of 136 kilogrammes placed in the centre of a single step, or

• (b) in respect of an access step designed to accommodate more than one person at a time, a mass of 272 kilogrammes placed in the centre of a double step.

Kneeling Suspension System Requirements

• (a) a master control and separate user control for the kneeling system function shall be required to enable operation of the system,

• (b) any control which initiates the lowering or raising of any part or the whole of the body relative to the road surface shall be clearly identified and under the direct control of the driver or the wheelchair occupant or his or her assistant,

• (c) the lowering process shall be capable of being stopped and immediately reversed by either the master control or the separate user control, and

• (d) the kneeling system shall not allow the vehicle to be driven at a speed exceeding 5 kilometres per hour where the vehicle is at lower than normal ride attitude.

Boarding Aid

• (a) a vehicle shall be equipped with a wheelchair ramp or powered lift assembly to allow a person travelling in a wheelchair to enter or exit the vehicle safely,

• (b) where the vehicle is equipped with a powered lift assembly, such powered lift assembly shall comply with the following provisions—

• (i) be certified by a relevant competent entity as having a minimum safe working load of 300 kilogrammes, and

• (ii) a lift platform of minimum area 725 millimetres wide x 900 millimetres long,

• (c) where the vehicle is equipped with a wheelchair ramp, such ramp shall—

• (i) have a maximum permitted ramp angle of 16o relative to true level, (for side entry vehicles only this shall be assessed with the free end raised 125 millimetres from the ground),

• (ii) be able to accommodate a variety of ground and kerb conditions,

• (iii) support a combined wheelchair and occupant mass of at least 300kg,

• (iv) where detachable, be suitable for manual handling,

• (v) have a safe means of stowage in the vehicle,