Council to ask taxi regulator to suspend issuing of plates

LIMERICK City Council wants the taxi regulator to suspend the issuing of further plates in the city.

The council yesterday backed a notice of motion tabled by Cllr Kevin Kiely, Cllr Jim Long and Cllr Kieran Walsh who claimed many long-established taxi workers were being driven out of business.

They pointed to an alleged influx of part-timers who have swollen city ranks.

Mr Kiely said: “Before deregulation, we had 207 licensed taxi plates in the city. It was clearly not enough to meet demand. But now there are more than 930 taxis in the city.

“The problem is compounded by the fact that there are about 80 designated taxi spaces in the city centre. This is causing its own problems, as taxis are spilling out of the ranks due to the long queue of cars for so few places.”

He and his council colleagues had a number of meetings with taxi leaders during the last month.

Mr Kiely said: “They are quite concerned at the level of double-jobbing and people who go out in a taxi after completing a shift in a factory. And a huge number come out at weekends to cherry-pick the best times. There is more than enough business for about an hour after the nightclubs and pubs close at weekend but, at other times, we have reached saturation point.

“What has happened is unfair on the traditional long-serving taxi owners who have given a great service, but who are now being driven out. I know of four long-standing taxi men who have sold out for small money in recent times. A plate is worth €6,000 having once been worth up to €60,000.”

Jim Long said they have decided to ask the regulator to put a cap on the issuing of licences.

“We want the regulator and the minister to deal with the over-supply of plates. There are a number of other issues which will come into play if this matter is dealt with.”

Mr Long would not elaborate on what those issues were. However, there is reportedly a lot of public criticism in Limerick at the condition of some taxis now taking to the streets of the city.

Mr Kiely said the Garda also believe there are too many taxis.