NTA must not force 3,750 taxis out of the industry – Richmond

The National Transport Authority (NTA) must update its rules on the lifespan of taxis to ensure that no drivers are forced out of the taxi industry given the current shortage of taxis across Ireland, according to Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond.

Deputy Richmond said: “The chronic shortage of taxis in Dublin continues to cause major issues and as the nights get darker action is needed by the NTA on how it is going to solve these issues.

“The current lifespan of a standard taxi vehicle is 10 years, and it is 15 years for wheelchair accessible taxis.

“During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the age limits on taxis were sensibly extended several times, but are due to expire at the end of the year.

“This would mean that 3,751 taxis drivers would be forced to replace their vehicles throughout 2023.

“With global supply chain issues making it harder to secure new vehicles, costs rising and budgets tightening, now is not the time for the NTA to force these drivers to replace their vehicles.

“Given the current taxi crisis, we must be encouraging taxi drivers to stay in the industry, not charging them to stay.

“Extending the life-span of taxis will ensure that no taxi driver is forced out of the industry due to the age of their car.

“The NTA has proposed a further extension to this rule for vehicles that will reach 10 years before 2025, but no clarity has been given to drivers on this.

“A public consultation on this has closed, and drivers across the country are left in the dark with no knowledge on whether they will have to replace their vehicle or not.

“The NTA must urgently clarify the decision to extend these lifespans on taxi vehicles before even more customers are left walking home in the cold this winter,” Deputy Richmond concluded.