Taxi drivers call for more gardaí to curb disorder

TAXI drivers in Tralee have called for extra gardaí to be put on duty in the town at night to curb public disorder.

The Tralee Taxi Drivers’ Association has claimed that there have been two serious assaults on their members in the last three months.

The association is also engaged in a series of meetings with Tralee Town Council in a bid to resolve a crux about a proposed new taxi rank.

Association members met with the council during the week to discuss the location of a rank and public order issues at night.

The council wants the rank to be moved out of its current town centre mall location, but the taxi drivers are insisting a central location was essential for their business.

They said the current rank was totally inadequate to cater for the number of taxis operating in Tralee.

Concerns about anti-social behaviour during their busiest work periods at night were also voiced by the drivers in a meeting with Tralee mayor Terry O’Brien.

Mr O’Brien said he was hopeful the issues could be resolved, describing the meeting as positive.

He said they would be dealing with the relocation of the rank as soon as possible.

“Talks will be continuing,” he added.

Meanwhile, Terry Boyle, of the Tralee Taxi Association, said they had asked for an increased garda presence on the streets, but were told resources were tight.

He also highlighted the need for a proper taxi rank in Tralee, saying the current situation could not continue.