Taxi drivers claim industry in crisis over licences

TAXI drivers have claimed the industry is in crisis due to the rising number of plates being issued and lack of taxi rank spaces in the leading cities and towns.

Representatives of several taxi driver organisations yesterday called on the Government to introduce an immediate moratorium on the issuing of new licences as they claim the country is oversupplied by more than 21,000 existing taxis.

The Oireachtas Committee on Transport heard yesterday that the income of taxi drivers had fallen by 30-50% since the start of the economic downturn.