Report to 'radically improve' taxi sector

A new report has the potential to radically improve the taxi sector for both passengers and drivers.

That’s according to Labour Deputy Derek Nolan who said that the Government report contains over 40 key actions to address deficiencies in taxi regulation.

“Galway has experienced serious problems in the taxi industry due to over-supply and poor regulation. As a result, taxi drivers in Galway are struggling to make ends meet, and rogue operators are undermining public trust in the sector. This is a comprehensive, action focused report from the Government and followed the most intensive examination of the taxi sector in Ireland ever,” said the Galway West Deputy.

“Some of the actions in the report include extending enforcement controls to the Gardaí, barring drivers with serious criminal records from working in the industry and radically improving the complaints system to make it easier and to ensure complaints have a consequence.”

It is understood that the new vehicle licensing regimes will stop the transfer of licences between drivers and renting of licences will be seriously curtailed.

“These measures, together with greater efforts to tackle illegal operators will help address the issue of oversupply. Oversupply, which is estimated at anywhere between 13 to 22 per cent nationally, is anecdotally higher in Galway. The Government has committed to implementing the report and I urge Minister Alan Kelly, who led the charge on this issue, to progress the implementation as soon as possible.”