Lack of taxis has become an economic and safety liability

Night after night, from Malin Head to Mizen Head and Clew Bay to Dublin Bay, the scene repeats itself across urban and rural Ireland: people stranded, desperately trying to hail taxis that simply aren’t there. This isn’t just an inconvenience, it’s a symptom of a growing problem with a significant impact on businesses, local economies and even personal safety. But it’s a problem that has a solution: a 30pc increase in taxi numbers across the country.

The issue is clear, as demand for taxis is far out-stripping supply. While Ireland’s population has boomed by 14.4pc since 2013, the number of Small Public Service Vehicles (SPSVs), the majority of which are taxis, has dwindled by 10pc. In contrast, the number of licensed vehicles in the UK increased by 25pc in that period.

This decline is even sharper when it comes to drivers. According to the National Transport Authority (NTA), from 2012 to 2024 the number of licensed drivers decreased by around 24pc. But in England, the number of licensed drivers increased by 20pc in the same period.

The consequences of this shortage are widespread. Businesses that rely on late-night customers are struggling – from rural restaurants to bustling city pubs. Local economies across the country are losing out on vital revenue generated by a vibrant night scene.

Perhaps most concerning, the lack of readily available taxis puts personal safety at risk, particularly for those walking home alone at night, regardless of location. Ireland’s taxi drivers are doing their absolute utmost to get people from A to B safely, in often challenging circumstances. We simply need more of them.

We at the Taxis for Ireland Coalition are not calling for the liberalisation of the taxi system. We recognise the value of the current regulations in ensuring passenger safety and vehicle standards. Our focus is on addressing the taxi shortage through targeted measures that do not compromise these regulations. We strongly support the retention of garda vetting and a robust driver licensing process.

A simple solution exists: we need more licensed, regulated taxis on the road, and a modernised SPSV system. We have suggested three solutions to tackle this crisis.

Firstly, ensuring the NTA is committed to a 30pc increase in taxi vehicles across the country by 2027. This would meet the growing demand in urban areas, meet the shortfall in rural communities and have a significant economic benefit. We believe this can be achieved through two key measures: the re-evaluation of the Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) requirement and the modernisation of the SPSV Driver Entry Test.

Currently, all newly registered SPSVs are required to be wheelchair-accessible vehicles. The Taxis for Ireland Coalition supports the WAV grants programme, but believes that removing the mandatory WAV requirement would allow more drivers to enter the market. The grant scheme could then ensure a continued availability of wheelchair-accessible taxis.

As it stands, the requirement to purchase a WAV, which can cost €54,000 to €59,000 – significantly more than a standard taxi – creates a financial barrier for prospective drivers. By removing this requirement while continuing the WAV grant, the overall supply would increase. This, in turn, would benefit everyone, as people who need a wheelchair-accessible vehicle would have a larger pool of taxis to choose from, while those who don’t require a WAV would not book one unnecessarily.

We also believe that the SPSV Driver Entry Test’s geography-based knowledge requirements are outdated in an age of ubiquitous GPS navigation. Reforming the test to reflect this reality would streamline the licensing process and encourage more drivers to join the workforce, as seen in many European countries.

Disappointingly, the NTA has denied our claim that there is a taxi shortage and it maintains there is no problem. The solutions presented above are within the NTA’s remit to implement and do not require primary legislation from the Government.

The reality on the ground speaks for itself. Ireland’s hospitality and tourism offerings are world-renowned and a safe and efficient taxi system is critical to maintaining these.