Shortage of drivers leads to taxi ‘crisis’ in capital

DUBLIN is facing a serious taxi shortage with thousands of people being left without a cab late at night, industry experts have said.

Many drivers are also refusing to go long distances because of the high price of fuel.

The shortage has hit Dublin’s night-time economy in recent weeks. Taxi booking service Free Now reported 30,000 requests within an hour of the end of Ed Sheeran’s Croke Park concert.

Almost 2,000 drivers, or one in ten, have quit since the pandemic began, according to statistics from the Government and National Transport Authority (NTA).

Galway city councillor Frank Fahy, a cabbie of 32 years and manager of Big O Taxis in Galway city, said there is a ‘crisis’ in Dublin.

‘Taxis are picking and choosing where they go, even though they are obliged to take you where you want to go,’ he said.

‘The major issues in Dublin, where taxis are refusing to do long, out-oftown fares, is down to the fact that fuel is so expensive.’ Mr Fahy said it used to cost €70 to fill his tank, but this has risen to nearer €125.

‘Meanwhile, we haven’t had a fare increase, so that cost has to be absorbed by a driver,’ he said.

The cost of running a taxi has increased by 11% since 2017, according to the National Maximum Taxi Fare Review Report 2022, published last month.

The NTA proposed an increase in maximum fares of up to 12.5% in late April to tackle the rising costs for drivers, a move which is under public consultation until May 27.

Mr Fahy said: ‘I welcome that they are planning to raise fares but my concern is that it’s a big fare increase all at once. I would prefer it to be gradual, say 2% or 3% a year. A 12.5% increase will lead to arguments.’

But he said the ‘biggest issue’ is a shortage of drivers.

‘We lost 20% of our drivers during Covid in their early 70s and late 60s, and you’re not able to replace them. There are no young people coming into the industry,’ he said.

The NTA said it hopes increasing fares will entice drivers back into the business.

Niall Carson, manager of Free Now, said that since the end of pandemic restrictions, ‘the demand for late-night transport at peak times has grown exponentially’ and that ‘there just aren’t enough drivers’.

A Department for Transport spokesman said a proposed fare increase ‘in cents/euro for each taxi user per journey is not substantial; however, the cumulative impact of the increase is significant for drivers and it is hoped this will encourage more taxi drivers to operate during these periods and also encourage drivers to reactivate their licences’.

‘We lost 20% of our drivers during Covid’