Laois taxi fall big issue on Portlaoise doorsteps
Voters worried about the impact of decline in Laois taxi numbers
Incentives must be increased in Laois to reverse the decline in taxi numbers in Laois according to Portlaoise local election candidate Pauline Flanagan.
She called on the government to increase incentives for taxi licences in Laois after it has been revealed that there are now 207 licensed taxis down from 239 in 2019 in Laois.
Ms Flanagan said voter are concerned enough to raise with her on the doorsteps.
"The significant decrease in taxi availability is something that people have been saying to me whilst canvassing at the doors...this is definitely having an impact on the local Laois community and businesses. This will only continue to be exasperated as we head into the summer tourist season.
"I know plenty of people throughout rural Laois that are simply not coming in to Portlaoise town to have a few drinks because they know it will be too difficult to get a taxi home’, said Ms Flanagan.
The non-party candidate called on the government to introduce measures to alleviate the onerous application system to address this shortage.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) recently revealed to Independent TD for Laois Offaly Carol the number of taxis or Small Public Service Vehicles (SPSV), has decreased in 23 out of 26 counties. The latest available data from the NTA show that in Offaly the number of taxis in 2023 was 151, down from 155 in 2022 and 184 in 2019.