Rule to replace taxi vehicles over nine years old revoked
The National Transport Authority announced the U-turn on the seven-week rule for drivers who have had a taxi licence since before 2009.
But taxi unions warned it was too late for hundreds of drivers who, alreadystruggling to make a living, were put off the road when the regulation came intoforce in the new year.
Tony Rowe, of the National Transport Assembly of Ireland, said the ruleaffected a lot of drivers whose cars were in pristine condition.
“The pivotal concern of any transport authority has to be the safety of thetravelling public and drivers and this nine-year rule was meaningless,” he said.
“Each taxi already underwent a stringent NCT and SGS (taxi suitability test)and those cars passed those tests regardless of their year.
“We are hoping those drivers will now be able to get back to work.”
The NTA board, which took over taxi regulation on January 1, said it wouldrevoke the rule while it carries out a review on vehicle standards in the taxi industry and holds consultations.
Transport Minister Pat Carey welcomed the decision and maintained Fianna Fáil would support the taxi industry if re-elected.
“Fianna Fáil will continue to work to bring about an immediate cap on theissuing of new taxi licences,” he added.
Fine Gael’s Simon Coveney claimed the last minute U-turn on taxis was a desperate vote-grabbing attempt. “Fianna Fáil is famous for its vote-grabbing antics, but this takes the biscuit,” said the party’s transport spokesman.
“Pat Carey’s decision to abandon the nine-year replacement rule for taxis,just a few days before election day, is obviously a desperate attempt to grab a few votes at the last minute.”
Elsewhere Labour’s Joe Costello called for the NTA to review the whole taxi industry and other controversial measures being implemented.
“The scheme was ill thought-out and would have meant that many taxi driverswould have lost their livelihoods as they would have been unable to gain access to the substantial credit required to replace an older vehicle in this currenteconomic climate,” said Mr Costello.
Green Party TD Trevor Sargeant said he had lobbied the taxi regulator to changethe rule on a number of occasions.
“We were looking at a situation where taxi drivers have been forced to stopusing a perfectly roadworthy vehicle simply because it was over nine yearsold,” he said.
“Drivers and owners were effectively being encouraged not to maintain perfectly good cars because of their age, which makes no sense either from aneconomic or an environmental perspective.”
