Regulator: New rules will not reduce taxi numbers

The Commissioner for Taxi Regulation Kathleen Doyle is denying that new measures announced today are designed to reduce the number of taxis and hackneys on the country's roads.

From next year, only wheelchair accessible vehicles will be issued with a new licence, while vehicles older than nine years of age will be outlawed from 2011.

The regulator is also banning the transfer of new licences.

Ms Doyle maintains that she is not bowing to pressure from taxi drivers to reduce the number of licences she issues.

She says instead that the new rules are designed to improve the existing fleet.