New subsidised local hackney service to be provided in Kilcormac, Co Offaly as part of national pilot programme
I welcome todays launch of a new pilot programme which supports a localised, specially licenced, hackney service in Kilcormac as part of a national move to improve transport choices for people living in rural locations.
The National Local Hackney Pilot, is a grant aided programme designed to encourage new part-time local hackney services in communities which could not support a full-time taxi or hackney operation. Each successful applicant for the local hackney license may be granted €6,000 as a subsidy to ordinary fares income, to run the service.
I am thrilled that Kilcormac is one of the 21 rural areas chosen across the country to pilot the scheme. A key priority of mine is to improve transport options across the Midlands, not just in towns, but in the areas around those towns where so many people live and farm. This local hackney service to be piloted in Kilcormac and also in Castlepollard, Co Westmeath, responds to the reality of rural life.
To ensure that this pilot is a success and will be rolled out to other towns, I urge interested drivers in Kilcormac to apply to operate the local hackney service and the people living in Kilcormac to use the service. It will operate on a pre-booked basis and may only pick up passengers within a designated area of 7 to 10km from a chosen point, normally the residence of the licenced driver. The drop off point has no restrictions, allowing for trips to healthcare facilities for example.
Drivers will be licenced, insured and Garda vetted and applications to take part in the one-year Pilot Programme can be made at localhackney.ie
The final acceptance date for applications for the Pilot is the 28th February 2023. However, each application will be assessed at the time of receipt. If the applicant in each area does not complete the licence process, NTA will assess the next applicant on the list. Two separate licences are legally required to operate a local area hackney; a local area hackney vehicle licence issued by NTA for suitable, appropriately insured vehicles and a local area hackney driver licence issued by An Garda Síochana for a driver who has been successfully Garda vetted. NTA will guide applicants through the process.
For more information see: www.localhackney.ie