The National Transport Authority (NTA) has reopened applications for the 2026 Wheelchair Accessible Small Public Service Vehicle (WAV) Grant Scheme, with a narrow window from 8–15 July 2026. The scheme offers grants of up to €12,500 toward the purchase or conversion of wheelchair-accessible taxis and hackneys, paid out through a lottery among eligible drivers. Since its launch in 2016, the programme has expanded Ireland’s accessible taxi fleet from roughly 1,000 vehicles to over 4,700, according to ride-hailing platform FreeNow by Lyft. While progress is notable, demand still outstrips funding: many regional towns report wait times of over 45 minutes for a WAV booking during peak periods. FreeNow and disability-advocacy groups are urging the government to raise the annual budget so that more drivers can afford the €40,000-plus cost of a purpose-built vehicle. For business-travel planners, the enlarged fleet is crucial. Global companies are increasingly required to demonstrate compliance with accessibility obligations when relocating staff or hosting conferences in Ireland. An expanded WAV pool eases the logistics of airport transfers and site visits for wheelchair users, a key consideration for assignment-management firms. Drivers have until 17:00 on 15 July to submit online applications; successful applicants will be notified by month-end and have until 11 December to put a vehicle on the road. The NTA emphasises that only one application per individual is permitted and that provisional grant offers from Round 1 cannot be rolled over. Relocation specialists should alert employees with mobility impairments to the improved service level expected later this year, especially in secondary cities such as Cork, Galway and Limerick. Travel buyers may wish to renegotiate preferred-supplier agreements with taxi dispatch companies to guarantee WAV availability during large corporate events.
Source: Autotrade.ie
