23Number of owner-operator taxi licences to be made available

23 Number of owner-operator taxi licences to be made available

(1)  Before 30 September in each year, the Commission must make available for issue in each taxi area an additional number of owner-operator taxi licences equivalent to –

(a) 5% of the total number of perpetual taxi licences and owner-operator taxi licences in that area, rounded to the nearest whole number; or

(b) one owner-operator taxi licence –

whichever is the greater.

(1A)  [Section 23 Subsection (1A) inserted by No. 27 of 2016, s. 4, Applied:06 Sep 2016] [Section 23 Subsection (1A) substituted by No. 28 of 2020, s. 34, Applied:30 Dec 2020] Subsection (1) does not apply, and subsections (1B) and (1C) only apply, in relation to a taxi area in respect of the years 2020 to 2024 (inclusive).

(1B)  [Section 23 Subsection (1B) inserted by No. 27 of 2016, s. 4, Applied:06 Sep 2016] [Section 23 Subsection (1B) substituted by No. 28 of 2020, s. 34, Applied:30 Dec 2020] If the Commission is, having regard to –

(a) guidelines, if any, issued under subsection (1C) ; and

(b) other matters that it considers to be relevant –

satisfied that there are insufficient taxis available to adequately meet the needs of consumers in a taxi area, the Commission may make available for issue in relation to the taxi area the number of owner-operator taxi licences that the Commission thinks are necessary to meet those needs.

(1C)  [Section 23 Subsection (1C) inserted by No. 27 of 2016, s. 4, Applied:06 Sep 2016] [Section 23 Subsection (1C) substituted by No. 28 of 2020, s. 34, Applied:30 Dec 2020] The Commission may issue guidelines in respect of the matters that the Commission is to take into account in determining whether there are sufficient taxis available to adequately meet the needs of consumers in a taxi area.