135 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if the concerns of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10 in relation to taxi types will be accommodated in new regulations. [9587/02]

I recently published a consultation paper, the purpose of which is to elicit comments and submissions from interested parties by 30 April 2002 on a range of issues with a view to the future development of qualitative improvements in taxi services. The consultation paper has been prepared against the background of the liberalised regime of taxi licensing, the provisions of the Disability Bill, 2001 and the stated policy that, by end 2003, the process will commence of making all taxi vehicles wheelchair accessible. The issues raised in the correspondence referred to will be considered as part of the overall qualitative review of taxi services which is currently under way.