Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

File image of a man using a wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Alamy Stock Photo

Online applications for wheelchair-accessible taxi grant closes ‘after just 15 minutes’

The National Transport Authority said there was an ‘incredible demand’ for the Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Grant Scheme, with applications closing early.

THE NATIONAL TRANSPORT Authority (NTA) has been called on to review its technical systems after reports that its online application for a grant to taxi drivers towards the purchase of wheelchair accessible vehicles closed after just fifteen minutes.

The NTA’s Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Grant Scheme offers taxi drivers up to €15,000 towards the purchase of wheelchair accessible vehicles.

In December, the NTA revised the Grant Scheme for this year “in response to industry feedback and to enhance the grant process for all”.

The NTA said that changes included increasing the time applicants have to complete the grant process and providing two opportunities for applying, one in January and the other July.

The January round of the scheme opened yesterday, and closed once the NTA had received around 2,000 applications

January applicants will be contacted soon to find out if they were successful and can proceed to the next stages of the process.

In a statement yesterday, the NTA said it had “once again seen incredible demand for the Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Grant Scheme” and noted that Round 1 “closed early on opening day”.

The NTA added that the level grant funding for the scheme in 2025 is planned to exceed all previous years, after a high of over €6 million was issued last year.

However, Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín has called for the NTA to “immediately look at its technical systems as online applications closed after just fifteen minutes”.

He said several “disappointed and upset taxi drivers” have contacted his office “to voice their utter frustration with the situation”.

“The NTA opened its application process online yesterday morning at 10am and by 10.15am, all the grants were gone,” said Tóibín.

“For all the grants to be allocated in just fifteen minutes is crazy, and means the current grant is incredibly limited and difficult to secure, currently only available to a tiny cohort of applicants.”

Tóibín said he was contacted by a taxi driver who said he was online at exactly 10am yesterday, but was “locked out by 10.15am”.

“He now has to wait until July to try again,” said Tóibín, “a whole six months and no guarantee at all that he will be successful then and may have to wait a further six months and on it goes.”

The Aontú leader said this is “totally unacceptable and unfair”.

He added: “The Government has asked the taxi industry to ensure more of its vehicles are accessible for people with disabilities and this is a fair request.

“But it seems bizarre that when drivers then try to draw down a grant in order to try and buy accessible vehicles, the grants are all gone.”

Tóibín said he has spoken to a taxi driver, who wishes to remain anonymous, who is renting a taxi for €300 a week and trying to buy his own taxi.

“The grant of €15,000 would have gone some way towards purchasing his own vehicle, which would come in at around €90,000,” said Tóibín.

Tóibín said he has questioned the NTA on its online system, and that a spokesperson “said there were no issues with its system but did acknowledge that its website was slowed down due to the large number of applicants applying as soon as it opened to online applicants at 10am”.

“I find this utterly bizarre and it is terribly unfortunate on the taxi drivers who were relying on this grant,” said Tóibín.

A spokesperson for the NTA told The Journal that it is “worth noting that new licence holders may choose to licence new wheelchair accessible taxis and hackneys without grant assistance”.

“This is an equally used route for new entrants, with 346 new such licences being added to the fleet in 2024 without grant aid, versus 372 which were grant aided,” added that NTA spokesperson.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
36 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Catherine Mc
    Favourite Catherine Mc
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2017, 3:01 PM

    The Irish Imigration Centre Dublin.

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin Flood
    Favourite Martin Flood
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2017, 3:43 PM

    @Catherine Mc: *Emigration

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Catherine Mc
    Favourite Catherine Mc
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2017, 4:10 PM

    @Martin Flood:
    Thank you Martin for correction.

    7
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alois Irlmaier
    Favourite Alois Irlmaier
    Report
    Jun 4th 2017, 1:52 AM

    @Catherine Mc: The nearest loo if you have a full bladder lol.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute bopter
    Favourite bopter
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2017, 3:44 PM

    How can one win an architecture award just on good location? The Kilsallagh one and the Marconi station are just good locations with nothing of architectural interest.

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Deviléire
    Favourite Deviléire
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2017, 3:08 PM

    The Royal Hospital, Kilmainham.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Negan
    Favourite Negan
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2017, 3:44 PM

    Merchants quay Cork *winkwink*

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan O'Rourke
    Favourite Alan O'Rourke
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2017, 3:54 PM

    Petition for Liberty Hall!!

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Inanimate Carbon Rod
    Favourite Inanimate Carbon Rod
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2017, 4:07 PM

    @Alan O’Rourke: and the Twin Towers in Poolbeg !

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ian Moloney
    Favourite Ian Moloney
    Report
    Jun 4th 2017, 1:12 AM

    The public library in Bantry Co Cork incorporates the adjacent twisting road and river ingeniously.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute iMoan Brutal
    Favourite iMoan Brutal
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2017, 9:58 PM

    Most of them are hidious (especailly the modern ones) and completely impractical, (flat roofs in Ireland just means the designer has no grasp on reality) Are the older better quality desgins going to the original designers, or the nesw ones whove just stuck a few panes of glass in and cleaned the stonework?

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bob McShane
    Favourite Bob McShane
    Report
    Jun 4th 2017, 12:52 AM

    Wanderly wagon?

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alois Irlmaier
    Favourite Alois Irlmaier
    Report
    Jun 4th 2017, 1:55 AM

    Knock Chapel?

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alois Irlmaier
    Favourite Alois Irlmaier
    Report
    Jun 4th 2017, 1:53 AM

    http://highlanes.ie/
    Highlanes Municipal Art Gallery, Drogheda?

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bob McShane
    Favourite Bob McShane
    Report
    Jun 4th 2017, 12:50 AM

    Wanderlust wagon?

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds