To ask the Minister of the Environment for his assessment of the impact new taxi meters will have on taxi services in rural areas; and to detail what communication he has had with taxi companies regarding this issue.

The impact that taximeters will have on taxi services in rural areas and in particular the issue of dead miles was raised by members of the Environment Committee on 7 January 2016 following come concerns raised by rural operators. Given the seriousness of the issue, that people in rural communities could be adversely affected, my Department has looked further at the issue and met with rural operators, the Departmental Solicitors Office and the Consumer Council to agree a course of action.

As a result, my Department will be amending the current regulations by adding an additional exemption to regulation 10(2) of the Taxis (Taximeters, Devices and Maximum Fares) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 which requires all Class A & B taxis to use a taximeter. This additional exemption exists when the passenger has been advised by the operator that the distance to be travelled by the taxi without the passenger in fulfilling the booking will exceed the actual distance of the passenger’s journey in the taxi, and the passenger signs a waiver to that effect waiving the right to have their fare calculated by taximeter.

The rural operators are very supportive of the proposals and agreed that the steps being taken satisfactorily address the issue.