Ten per cent drop in taxi numbers in County Sligo

THERE has been a ten percent drop in the number of taxis operating in County Sligo in the last four years.

The drop was confirmed by new figures released by the National Transport Authority (NTA).

There were 230 taxis operating in the county in 2019 but in 2023 there were 207.

A drop in taxi numbers of this magnitude raises major concerns for the local and national hospitality industry and for everyday passengers.

The figures show how the west of Ireland has been heavily impacted by taxi shortages in recent years, with licences dropping by almost 9% in the same period, which has led to criticism of current small public service vehicles (SPSV) policy by various stakeholders, particularly in hospitality and tourism.

The Taxis for Ireland Coalition is calling on the NTA and the Government to take immediate action to address the shortage of taxis.

They propose a 30% increase in taxi vehicles by 2027 as a step towards alleviating the impact of driver and vehicle number decrease over the past decade, coupled with Ireland's population growth.

“A reliable and accessible taxi network is essential for a thriving hospitality industry and local economies,” says Kieran Harte, General

Manager of Uber Ireland. “Taxis provide a safe and familiar option for visitors to Ireland and serve an invaluable service to people in rural and urban areas alike. We urge the Government and NTA to acknowledge the issue and take concrete steps to improve the supply of licensed, regulated taxi drivers and vehicles.”

“The significant decrease in taxi availability is a crippling blow to rural Ireland’s hospitality sector,” says Adrian Cummins, CEO of the Restaurants Association of Ireland. “These businesses often rely on taxis to get customers home safely, especially after dark. With little to no public transport links in rural areas and without a vital taxi service, many people simply won't go out, further squeezing already strained rural businesses. The Government needs to take immediate action to address this issue before it cripples the entire industry entirely.”

The decline in taxi numbers is attributed to a number of factors, including the fallout from the Covid19 pandemic, an onerous entry system, and costly barriers for new drivers – such as outlays of up to €59,000 for a vehicle alone.

The figures were released following a parliamentary question by Independent TD Carol Nolan.