Time for cap on new taxi licences and freeze on 9 year rule

“Taxi drivers are now working longer hours than ever before to make a living and incomes have dropped across the board.   In recognition of that Fianna Fáil will support an immediate cap on the issuing of new taxi licences.  This is the right decision for the industry and the right decision for taxi drivers across Dublin,” said Fianna Fáil TD and Dublin South West General Election candidate Charlie O'Connor.

“I believe the introduction of a cap on numbers will make the taxi industry fairer, safer and better equipped to deal with the needs of taxi-drivers and the general public.”

“Fianna Fáil wants a taxi industry which is affordable, accessible and provides a quality service for the public.  We accept that there have been significant increases in the number of taxis on our roads since deregulation in 2000.  We believe the taxi market is now over-subscribed and that this situation has caused real difficulties for those working in the industry.”

“My colleague Minister Pat Carey has written to the National Transport Authority, which manages the regulation of the Small Public Transport Vehicle Sector in Ireland through its Taxi Regulation Directorate, to inform it of our party position.”

“We also support the suspension of the introduction of the Nine Year Rule on the replacement of taxis to 31^st July 2012.  This has caused problems already for drivers and we want the time frame for this change pushed out initially to allow this particular issue to be looked at again in detail.”

“Fianna Fáil is also committing to implement new legislation to robustly enforce taxi regulation and to increase penalties for those operating illegal taxis.”