To ask the Minister for Infrastructure (i) for her Department’s assessment of the impact of the Taxi Accessibility Regulations (NI) 2015 on the availability of wheelchair accessible vehicles in Northern Ireland; and (ii) what her Department is doing to increase the availability of wheelchair accessible vehicles.

The number of wheelchair accessible vehicles (WATs) licensed as Class B taxis, ultimately depends on drivers and operators purchasing and using them, but as policy maker and regulator, clearly the actions my Department takes can have an impact on the market.

Since May 2016 the Department has been monitoring the number of WATs throughout Northern Ireland and routinely publishes quarterly statistical reports, with the latest figures for the quarter ending 31 December 2021 confirming there were a total of 506 taxi vehicles licensed in Class B which is a slight drop from 534 in 2013 which predates the Taxi Accessibility Regulations (NI) 2015.

To make it easier for taxi drivers and operators to get WATs, the DVA has reviewed the process and guidance available to prospective buyers of WATs, and for those companies that supply and modify the vehicles.

In addition, to ensure that operators remain fully compliant with laws around disabilities, officials have previously met with the Consumer Council, the Inclusive Mobility and Transport Committee (IMTAC) and the Equality Commission. The discussions were positive and have led to direct contact between the Commission and the three largest taxi operators in NI.

My officials continue to monitor the number of WATs on a quarterly basis and will continue to engage with stakeholders to keep appraised of developments.