Louth taxi numbers fall by more than 100 since 2019
Louth one of 23 counties with less taxi licences compared to pre-Covid levels
Taxi numbers in Louth have declined by almost 16%, according to new figures from the National Transport Authority (NTA), highlighting what the The Taxis for Ireland Coalition describes as stark regional disparities in access to essential transport.
According to the NTA data, there was 697 taxis in Louth in 2019, a figure which fell to 607 in 2022, and to 586 in 2023.
The figures came in response to a recent parliamentary question by Independent TD Carol Nolan. This dramatic drop in available taxis raises concerns for the country's vital hospitality industry and everyday passengers, particularly as tourist numbers are expected to surge in the coming months.
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 small public service vehicles (SPSV) policy by various stakeholders, particularly in hospitality and tourism.
“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, what the The Taxis for Ireland Coalition describes as an onerous entry system, and costly barriers for new drivers – such as outlays of up to €59,000 for a vehicle alone.
The Taxis for Ireland Coalition says it is calling on the NTA and the Government to take immediate action to address the shortage of taxis. It proposes 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 is calling for the removal of the WAV requirement for newly registered small public service vehicles (SPSVs) 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, it says, 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.