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How do I apply for a Wheelchair Accessible Taxi grant?

The process for applying for a grant from the National Transport Authority is straight forward, but it is vitally important that you fully understand this process before you purchase a vehicle. There are certain restrictions in place, in regards to applicants, in order to make certain that everything has been done to ensure that the key beneficiaries are the passengers who need the vehicles.

·         Applicants must have tax cleared status with the ability to maintain it. Also, in line with typical SPSV operations, applicants must not have had a prosecution or complaint registered in the 24 months leading up to the date of application, upheld.

  -  Other requirements include that the proposed taxi driver must undertake a NTA provided Disability Awareness Training course, relevant to being a SPSV service provider. This is free of charge. The driver will also be expected to use specific free of charge APP which will tie into the inclusion on a website which allows the NTA to offer services and take bookings accordingly.

  -  As will also be expected that the driver is expected to hold the relevant insurances as set out in the Taxi Regulation Act 2013, ensuring that the proposed taxi will comply with the relevant regulation.

  -  Finally, the applicant must be legally entitled to be in the possession of and use the proposed vehicle for a minimum period of 12 months from the date of the application, committing to  complete and return to the(WAV16C form)  NTA journey documentation at six monthly intervals.

 

Given that the applicant is and expects to be compliant with the above conditions, you would be invited to download the relevant forms from the NTA website and return them via the post to the office in Galway.

https://www.nationaltransport.ie/taxi-and-bus-licensing/wav16-wheelchair-accessible-vehicle-grant-scheme-2016-opens-today-1st-april/

If, on completion of the application process, you receive a provisional grant letter of offer from the NTA, your next step should be to arrange for a Technical Assessors Full Report to be carried out for your proposed vehicle. Using the template provided, the report will be able to show that NTA that in theory, your chosen vehicle is suitable.

https://fe49d9ec8511d2dc0553-f8f415f79bf5d37d632aa2f721fb6d7c.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Technical_Assessor_Full_Report_Template_02.16.pdf

The Technical Assessors Full Report must be completed by a competent person, referred to as the technical assessor, who meets the following minimum requirements:

·           -   Engineering Qualification (Level 7 or higher accredited courses)1 , or

·           -   Accreditation with Engineers Ireland as a Chartered or Associate Engineer , or

·           -  Member or Incorporated Member of the Institute of Automotive Engineer Assessors.


It is expected that the technical assessor must have;

 -  A minimum of five years experience of working in a suitable technical environment (preferably Automotive or Engineering Environment);

  -  Access to adequate facilities to carry out a thorough vehicle examination, and

  -  Appropriate professional indemnity insurance.



This completed Technical Assessors Full Report is required to be submitted alongside your license application (VL1) to the National Transport Authority in Galway.

https://fe49d9ec8511d2dc0553-f8f415f79bf5d37d632aa2f721fb6d7c.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Form_VL1_application_for_an_SPSV_licence_02.16.pdf

When you get notice that your application has been approved, you will be invited to book your vehicle for an Initial Suitability Inspection at one of the SPSV centres nationwide. The Initial Suitability Inspection is where an inspector is able to examine the wheelchair accessible vehicle to verify it is the vehicle that has been proposed through the Technical Assessors Full Report. When you have booked your Initial suitability Inspection at your local SPSV centre, you should also book your training course.

When the Initial Suitability Inspection and Disability Awareness Training course have been completed you should forward the certificate together with your grant payment request form to the NTA for payment of your grant. This will be processed by the authority and, if everything is as expected, you will gain final approval and you will receive your payment within 20 working days of notification.

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