As we face into Christmas, the chronic shortage of taxis will become even more of an issue and will deter people from going into central Dublin and other city centres. The National Transport Authority, NTA, has acknowledged there are now 3,000 taxi licences that are inactive. Taxi groups have been saying for some time - I reiterate their call - that drivers should be allowed to transfer licences to a nominated family member or somebody else. Many older taxi drivers have not wanted to return but currently they cannot transfer their licences unless they die. They could transfer their licences to nominated family members, friends or others and we could activate thousands of taxi licences. The taxi groups are also saying there are 50-minute waiting times to get in contact with the NTA to get suitability tests, etc. They are asking whether family members may be nominated to contact the NTA on their behalf on licence matters.

The regulator is very conscious of the need to expand the number of taxi drivers. An average increase in taxi fares of 12% was approved from September last. A driver recruitment campaign ran on national radio and digital platforms in July to encourage interested parties into the industry. Current analysis carried out by the NTA indicates this campaign has been successful, with a 24% increase in small public service vehicle, SPSV, driver entry tests booked in November and an 84% increase compared with November 2021. Sorry, the 24% was compared with 2019.

I ask the Taoiseach to respond to the question I asked, if he could.

The number of licensed vehicles is at 19,212. What the Deputy is suggesting flies in the face of existing frameworks for licences and so on.

There are 3,000 inactive licences. Let them transfer.

It is not as simple as the Deputy has presented and he knows it.