2 weeks Ago By Emma Kilcawley Hemani
TAXI drivers have defended a massive fare increase which could see revellers during this Christmas party season pay over 20 PER CENT more to get home. The National Transport Authority yesterday announced fare increases across all tariffs which will kick in on December 1. These will include the special rate, previously applied between 8pm Christmas Eve and 8am on St Stephen’s Day and 8pm on New Year’s Eve to 8am New Year’s, which will now be applied to peak weekend hours all year round.
The pre-booking charge will also increase from €2 to €3. The Irish Taxi Driver Federation said the hike is justified because they’ve been hit with significant fuel and insurance increases over the past year. Vice President James Maguire told the Irish Sun: “We have suffered greatly because of the cost of the living crisis.
Fuel has gone up, insurance has gone and it hasn’t become viable. “We have to pay €120 to have new meters installed and it’s then €86 to have meters re-calibrated so that’s over €200 dead money before we even get out on the road. “There’s also the older lads who are retiring from the industry and we’re not seeing enough younger people entering the profession so numbers are falling.
“But we still have 17,000 taxis on the roads in Ireland so that to me is not a shortage but we drivers have to be incentivised to service the night-time economy. “We need a proper discussion with the Gardai about that. Late night DARTS and buses would also help there but we saw the issues in Dublin with Coldplay or the All-Ireland and it will be the same with Oasis next year, the industry needs support and this is a start anyway.
“The NTA have a bunch of accountants working for them and these are the figures that they came up.” It’s estimated that the total fare hikes will be on average nine per cent. On the old premium rate of €1.
71 per kilometre to get travel the 12.3 kilometres from St Stephen’s Green to Blanchardstown on a Friday or Saturday night last Christmas, with the €5.40 initial charge and €2 booking charge, the journey would cost €28.
33. This Christmas, with an increased special rate to €2.20 per kilometre, initial charge increase to €5.
60 and higher pre-booking charge, it will cost €35.66 The NTA said the move is “an effort to incentivise more drivers to service the nighttime economy.” CEO Anne Graham said: “The NTA’s review is essential to ensuring the taxi industry remains sustainable and can continue to offer high-quality and reliable services.
“This nine per cent increase provides for the increasing operational costs drivers are facing while balancing the needs of the travelling public.”.
