I want to raise the crisis in the taxi industry. Over 2,000 taxi licences have gone after Covid, and thousands of licenceholders have not returned to work. We have circumstances in which people cannot get a taxi or face an inordinate delay when they want one. At the same time, drivers are struggling to make a living. They may be busy for a short number of hours but their business is very quiet beyond those hours. There are increases in running costs. I encourage the Minister to review the taxi advisory committee's ten-year rule and come forward with a fare increase. Is he concerned about the health and viability of the taxi industry? Will he engage with the representative groups?

My understanding is that the fare increase is out for public consultation. We differ on whether there should be a further extension. We provided one throughout Covid. If we continue to increase the age of the fleet of the taxi industry, it will become an issue for customers and the quality of the industry at a certain point. It is now time to go back to the ten-year rule.

The Deputy is right that we have lost about 2,000 taxi plates, the number having decreased from about 21,000 to 19,000.

There is a strange mix of realities, as the Deputy said. I follow very closely what is happening in the taxi industry. On the one hand, taxis are not very busy in some areas. On other occasions, people are flat out and it is difficult for customers to get taxis. We will work with the taxi regulator on an ongoing basis to make sure we get the best service and correct number of taxi drivers. If there need to be more taxis on our streets, that might be one of the solutions.