Buying back taxi licences ruled out

THE Commission for Taxi Regulation has ruled out using any of its €20m surplus in order to buy back taxi licences to relieve the problem of oversupply in the industry.

Taxi Regulator, Kathleen Doyle yesterday rejected a proposal by Sinn Féin TD, Aengus Ó Snodaigh, that such funds should be used to buy back plates to reduce the number of taxies to a sustainable level.

However, Ms Doyle said that the Commission was seeking permission from the Department of Transport to use some of the surplus to assist taxi owners to adapt their existing vehicles for wheelchair use.