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Increase in taxi fares during peak weekend hours expected to entice drivers back into night work

Taxi fares are set to rise by 12% on average from 1 September.

AN INCREASE IN taxi fares weighted in favour of those working ‘unsocial hours’ is expected to entice drivers back into city centres during busy weekend evenings, an industry expert has said.

Taxi fares are set to rise by 12% on average from 1 September following a review this year by the National Transport Authority (NTA)

It is the first fare increase since 2018 when the average cost of a taxi journey rose by 4.5%.

The new fare structure will see the standard initial charge increase from €3.80 to €4.20.

The initial charge during premium periods covering 8pm-8am and Sundays and public holidays will go from €4.20 to €4.80.

Speaking to The Journal, David McGuinness, chairperson of the taxi driver representative organisation Tiomanai Tacsai Na hEireann (TTnH), said he believes this new fare structure “may encourage drivers to work more unsocial hours”.

“I think it’s a good move by the NTA, I do think it’ll make a difference,” he said.

The NTA’s 2022 driver survey showed that 93% of drivers were working, but only 29% currently were undertaking night work. According to the survey, 30% of drivers said they would consider doing night work if the relevant fares were to increase.

McGuinness said that while the move is welcome it is long overdue because of the increase in costs over the last year and the fact that drivers have not had a fare increase since 2018. 

“In terms of costs, you can really notice the difference,” he said. “Even from my own experience, the other day I bought two tyres for the car and this time last year it would have cost €220 or €230 and now it costs over €300. To get your car serviced now is €220 – that’s gone up from €190. It all adds up.”

A survey conducted among taxi drivers in July 2019 showed they earned an average of €28,800 for working 48 weeks of the year. A review of fares conducted in 2019, which has recommended a fare increase to be implemented in 2020, was put on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The NTA said a driver’s income would increase by €3,456 annually as a result of the latest fare increase.

It said average operating costs for taxi drivers had increased by 11% between 2017 and 2022, while a further 1% fare increase was being provided to cover the cost of facilitating cashless payments.

Although there have been public complaints about the number of taxis for hire, particularly at night-time in Dublin, an NTA report earlier this year said the number of taxis in Ireland at 3.7 per 1,000 population far exceeded most countries in Europe where the average is 1.3 per 1,000 population.

However, the number of licensed taxis in February was 15,838 which was 11% lower than in 2019, with over 9,000 based in Dublin.

At the time, almost 80% of customers said they had to wait no more than 15 minutes to get a taxi on the last occasion that they used one, but 10% had to wait in excess of 30 minutes for a cab.

McGuinness said that he expects that the situation in Dublin in particular will improve over the rest of summer as there are fewer events planned in the city centre. 

“Five years ago if you had a big event on you would have had a lot of additional buses put on to cater for them, but that’s not happening anymore and that means there’s a huge demand when they’re on,” he said.

“Maybe the licensing of these events should be looked at more seriously to include how customers at concerts or events can actually get back from these places. It can’t just fall on the taxi industry, we need a proper late night bus service and the Luas and Dart should be running later.”

In response to a recent parliamentary question from Sinn Féin TD Ruairi Ó Murchú about costs in the taxi industry, Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said it is hoped that the 12% increase in taxi fares from 1 September this year will have an impact on the situation, particularly at evenings at weekends.

Minister Ryan pointed out that the proposed fare increases have been weighted in favour of the premium rate that can be charged for journeys between 8am to 8am, as well as on Sundays and public holidays.

“The increase in cents/euro for each taxi user per journey is not substantial; however, the cumulative impact is significant for drivers, and the weighting in the increase has been designed so as to encourage more drivers to operate during these periods and also encourage drivers who may still not have come back since the pandemic, to re-activate their licences,” he explained.

The minister said he recognises that rising fuel costs are a “significant challenge for all sectors”. He pointed out that the government had, in response, announced a temporary reduction in fuel-related excise duties of 20 cent per litre of petrol and 15 cent per litre of diesel in March.

“These reductions, which were due to finish at the end of August, will be extended until Budget Day on 27 September at an additional cost of circa €80 million, and should help reduce the operating costs of all private and commercial vehicle owners, including non-electric SPSV (taxi) operators,” he said. 

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    Mute Mrs parrott
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 1:07 PM

    I don’t care about the rights or wrongs of this story but what amazes me is a case like this goes before the high court. Judges at the top of their game (allegedly) they hear all the evidence and come to a decision. Next thing is at the court of appeal. Same evidence but a completely different ruling. What does that say about quality of judges?

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    Mute Louis Jacob
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 1:26 PM

    @Mrs parrott: it’s like a replay in the FA cup. Everyone wins except the poor clown with the check book.

    110
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    Mute Matt Connolly
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 1:48 PM

    @Mrs parrott: Typically it’s where there is little or no precedent in an area, conflicting precedent or where precedent is producing unwanted results. (or, of course, where the judge got it wrong). This case would be down to the first – little or no precedent. Now that the court of appeal has ruled, the high court has guidance for future cases.

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    Mute Lorcán Ó Broin
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 2:36 PM

    @Mrs parrott: There’s a wider point: allowing appeals to higher courts on points of law establishes a firmer legal precedent, in which other similar cases in lower courts (and outside the court system) can cite and take notice of, which more markedly illustrates legal demarcations. Its how the nationwide legal and administrative framework develops

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    Mute Jonathan Barry
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 12:10 PM

    Should have said he was a ………..

    149
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    Mute Daniel Bohan
    Favourite Daniel Bohan
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 12:30 PM

    @Jonathan Barry:

    Oh let’s play bigot bingo!

    Should have said he was a….

    Muslim?
    Jew?
    Refugee?
    Syrian?
    Political asylum seeker?

    Do I win?

    87
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    Mute Daniel Bohan
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 12:47 PM

    @Finipops: Succinct

    14
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    Mute Jake Gundersonn
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 12:40 PM

    Nationality is not a gift card as the journal like make it out to be. Don’t cheapen Countries to the same standard as monopoly board which The EU has turned out to be.

    118
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    Mute Paul Lane
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 12:19 PM

    Jus soli applied prior to 2005, which means anyone born on the soil of Ireland is entitled to citizenship. Anyone born since Jan 2005 must have connection to Irish blood (jus sanguinis) such as one parent being Irish.

    106
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    Mute Fear Uisce
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 12:20 PM

    He should have just hacked the registery

    98
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    Mute 3monkey
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 1:47 PM

    Did he not speak to his local TD ?

    54
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    Mute Fear Uisce
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 2:49 PM

    Or ask Putin for some help

    18
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    Mute Ted Murray
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 3:33 PM

    @Fear Uisce: __ He would have kicked him in the Gulags.

    13
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    Mute Alex Falcone
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 12:21 PM

    Dragging the elderly from their beds and denying them citizenship.
    Donald Trump is not a patch on Ireland.
    Where’s the protest this evening?

    75
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    Mute Fozz
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 12:27 PM

    @Alex Falcone: Hyperbole much?

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    Mute Daniel Bohan
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 12:33 PM

    @Fozz: Alex does a very poor impression of a troll, just ignore

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    Mute Keelan O'neill
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 12:35 PM

    Never mind hyperbole what about hypocrisy. If this was someone born in direct provision Snowflake Alex would be celebrating the victory.

    65
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    Mute Alex Falcone
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 12:42 PM

    @Keelan O’neill:
    Ingress and egress.

    7
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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 2:22 PM

    Did they drag him from his bed in Russia where he lives?

    22
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    Mute CeannairBlue
    Favourite CeannairBlue
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 2:22 PM

    How can it be so easy to kick out a normal person and yet rapists and murderers get to stay by citing the Human Rights Act ????

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    Mute Pablo Rojas Coppari
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 3:44 PM

    We don’t have a Human Rights Act

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    Mute CeannairBlue
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 4:15 PM

    @Pablo Rojas Coppari: Er, ever heard of the European Union of which we are member ? The European Convention on Human Rights ???

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    Mute Markonline
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 1:01 PM

    I hope he can bring his own hospital bed with him.

    58
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    Mute Laurence Cavanagh
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 2:03 PM

    Just leave the man alone.Its not like he’s doing anyone any harm for Gods sake

    54
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    Mute Jake Gundersonn
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 2:15 PM

    @Laurence Cavanagh: I agree. He only wants to see his grandkids. Horrible to deny that right to anyone and technically he was born in Ireland before June 2004 so he’s entitled to it. Leave the man be, the journal reporting on it doesn’t do any good story justice

    54
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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 2:24 PM

    Sets a precedent so the law must be followed but I know what you mean, it’s all a bit pedantic.

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    Mute Permo Dermo
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 5:45 PM

    Why make up such a story? The man has given an undertaking not to claim social welfare here and he’s elderly so why not allow him a citizenship?

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    Mute CJ Stewart
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 1:34 PM

    …Hang on…was he born here or conceived here .. ?????…….it wasn’t just fight’in was done in WW2, a lot of lov’in was done too…..I’m sure there was a fair few Chesnokov’s hang’in round Henrietta Street back then…… ‘go on ya bo ya..away with ya ! ‘

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    Mute Eranu
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 1:29 PM

    In before Superfiends and Jason Culligan.

    24
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    Mute Gerry Fallon
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 5:39 PM

    He’s 76 for jaysus sake! Will ye just give him de bleedin passport.

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    Mute Anne Marie Devlin
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 6:09 PM

    It’s all to do with the importation of garlic and we know how that can get you in hot water here. The man’s name comes from the Russian word for garlic, if it’s been properly transcribed. Though, seriously, I hope he gets some sort of extended visa. He’s an elderly man who wants to be near his grandchildren

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    Mute winston smith
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 7:13 PM

    Maybe he should have hired a good Genealogist! …or just set him the Dublin Taxi Drivers Street test and if he passes he is in.

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    Mute William T Smith
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 7:45 PM

    maybe if he was an Egyptian?

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    Mute Paul Brady
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    Feb 4th 2017, 4:15 AM

    It seems a bit unfair that we make an aged grandfather’s life more difficult to establish a point of law but we expect better treatment for our own undocumented.
    Maybe we should set an example, now that precedent has been established, and judge this case on its merits and how we would like our diaspora to be judged?

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    Mute John O'Driscoll
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    Feb 24th 2017, 8:01 PM

    @Paul Brady: the hypocrisy of it all would be quite breathtaking in anywhere else but here. There’s Mr Kenny going to Washington to bring the bowl of shamroguery on a last mission because he’ll bear the brunt of the ‘disgrace’ of meeting Trump amongst the chattering classes and he can plead for the case of the undocumented/illegal Irish citizens living there. And take the blame again if it all goes South. Ironic that another Taoiseach, deV, asked Kennedy to shut the gates of the US to the Irish because he wanted to stem the brain and labour drain back in the Fifties.

    Enda might be better off honouring the entire Choctaw Nation that gave its little all to help the starving Irish in the Famine by offering Irish citizenship to every Choctaw kid born henceforth if they want it. Then the Choctaw could offer the undocumented Irish sanctuary from Trump’s 10K new immigration enforcement officers when the old midnight knock sounds and ”VOS PAPIERIEN!!! BITTE!!!” or however they’ll say it. Well it’s more outside the box thinking than just bringing over an annual bowl of weed on bended knee and asking for mercy from a not too kindly stranger perhaps. THat hasn’t gotten any traction vis-a-vis the illegal Irish in the past fourteen years since Ireland threw open Her so-called neutral ports to illegal aggressive warmongering and state policies of torture for all the begging..

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    Mute Ronan McDermott
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 5:59 PM

    Surely his son could sponsor him ?

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    Mute Martin Fahy
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    Feb 4th 2017, 9:14 AM

    He has not been able to prove he was born in Ireland.
    But there are other options. My wife is Chinese and we were able to sponsor a visa get her elderly Mum a 1 year visa, extendable to 2 years without any problem.
    Once you show that you will accommodate and support financially, it’s a fairly straightforward process.
    I wonder why his son has not gone down this route or are there other issues in this case not in the article, you don’t get the full story in reports like this.

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    Mute Michael Mcshane
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 11:44 PM

    ..maybe if he ran for president of the united states and won…then we would have no problem tracing a connect to the “ole sod” for him… begorrah

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    Mute Can Millet
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    Feb 4th 2017, 12:51 PM

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    Mute John O'Driscoll
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    Feb 24th 2017, 7:49 PM

    I thought nobody should be arbitrarily deprived of their citizenship? Is not a judge saying he disagrees with an earlier Court interpretation in favour of the man’s case not just another subjective interpretation of the evidence, albeit in an higher court? Seems arbitrary enough to me. The evidence remains what it is, unchallenged it seems to me in terms of what it is. Anyway point is moot now Roma locuta est. Loads of Brits have just been arbitrarily deprived of their EU citizenship by slightly greater loads of other Brits and nobody at the UN seems concerned so it might no longer be the human right it once was held to be.

    Perhaps he’d have been better off finding a Midlands petfood factory to invest in. Or perhaps a ‘contribution’ to the upkeep of Inishvickillaune. More traditional ways of securing Irish citizenship. Million nicker starting price for both might have been a bit high for an old commie born on Henrietta Street who wouldn’t be exactly rubbing Charvet-clad shoulders with those who can sell Irish citizeship and passports for 30 pcs of foreign despot silver or a mess of FDI pottage.

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    Mute Gerard Henry
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    Feb 3rd 2017, 4:13 PM

    The gov are handing out citizenship to every one who settled here amazing this man was refused

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