Number of taxi drivers falls for first time in three years

The NTA figures indicate the sector could be facing another period of contraction as 641 drivers allowed their licences to lapse permanently last year, while another 6,200 have been inactive for over 12 months. File photo: Larry Cummins.

The number of licensed taxi and hackney drivers fell for the first time in three years last year as the dramatic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in over 1,200 fewer working in the industry.

New figures published by the National Transport Authority show the number of small public service vehicle (SPSV) driver licences at the end of 2020 stood at 26,105 – an annual decrease of 4.5% - despite the issuing of 854 new driver licences by gardaí last year.