Taxis for Ireland Coalition seeking reform of industry

A coalition of businesses groups seeking reform of the taxi industry is proposing a series of recommendations to the National Transport Authority (NTA) aimed at alleviating the current shortage of taxis.

The Taxis for Ireland Coalition is meeting the NTA's Small Public Service Vehicle's Advisory Committee today to discuss the issue.

Among the recommendations are that at specific strategy be developed for the Small Public Service Vehicle (SPSV) sector.

The group also wants an examination to be carried out of the provision of hackneys to expand rural Ireland's transport offering.

The coalition is also seeking an assessment of taxi availability in urban areas between the hours of 12am and 4am.

It also wants closer collaboration between the NTA, National Disability Authority and Central Statistics Office in an effort to identify every three years the level of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles needed in every county.

"We are committed to working collaboratively with the NTA and other stakeholders to develop practical and effective solutions that will benefit both taxi operators and the public," said Pat Crotty, CEO of the Vintners Federation of Ireland.

"The taxi shortage has been a constant theme throughout urban and rural Ireland alike, and our recommendations aim to alleviate the difficulties people face across the country," Pat Crotty said.

"Our goal is to ensure that the taxi industry remains a vital and competitive component of the public transportation system," he said.

The coalition also recommends that the NTA should review SPSV numbers on a county-by-county basis due to a reduction in taxi numbers in 23 out of 26 counties from 2019 to 2023.

"The dwindling supply of taxis is not only affecting drivers but also causing significant inconvenience for passengers, leading to longer wait times, reduced availability, and potential safety concerns," Mr Crotty added.

"We believe that these recommendations will help address the current supply issues and pave the way for a more sustainable and efficient service," he added.

The development comes as new research by construction firm Arup for the coalition found SPSV driver and vehicle numbers are expected to fall considerably based on the average trend of the last decade.

This is despite a forecasted significant rise in population numbers.

Over the last ten years the number of licensed taxis per 1,000 residents here fell by 17%.

However, the number operating in the UK rose by 10% and the number of taxis and ridesharing vehicles operating in New Zealand, which has a similar population size, increased by 289%.