Taxi numbers plunge in Laois

Laois taxi numbers have declined by nearly 14% in two years with a local TD warning about the consequences of the decline in her constituency and right around the country.

National Transport Authority figures provided to Laois Offaly TD Carol Nolan show that there are were 207 licensed taxis in Laois down at the end of 2023 down from 239 in 2019. That's a drop of 13.39%.

The situation is worse in Offaly where licences have dropped by nearly 18% to 151 last year down from 184 in 2019.

In a statement issued in response to the data obtained by the independent TD, the Taxis for Ireland Coalition said the dramatic drop nationally raises concerns for the country's vital hospitality industry and everyday passengers.

“I fully accept the concerns being raised by businesses, particularly around the need for taxis as a support the hospitality industry and our local economies,” said Deputy Nolan.

“We also need to ensure that people have access to licenced safe travel for social nights out. Without that many people may not bother, which is understandable, but deeply regrettable.”

“Hopefully Government can look at how it can support taxis and the local communities as the numbers continue to drop,” concluded Dep Nolan.

Nationally there has been a -3.54% fall from 27,326 in 2019 to 26,360 in 2023. 

The Midlands East Region excluding Dublin has been heavily impacted by taxi shortages in recent years, falling by 17.5%, which has led to criticism of current SPSV policy by stakeholders.

“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 Covid-19 pandemic, an onerous entry system, and costly barriers for new drivers – such as outlays of up to €59,000 for a vehicle.

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 Taxis for Ireland Coalition want the WAV requirement for newly registered SPSVs removed and a re-assessment of the SPSV Driver Entry Test’s geography-based knowledge requirements. The removal of the WAV requirement but the continuation of the WAV grant would mean a larger pool of taxis to choose from, meaning that people that do not need a WAV will not be booking one unnecessarily. The Coalition states that these measures would alleviate the current burdens facing prospective new drivers and would increase overall supply into the market.