Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
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.
Advertisement
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.
Related Reads
Uber and Lyft could help with Ireland's taxi shortage, says Tánaiste
'I was afraid, walking 25 minutes alone': Dubliners say shortage of taxis posing safety risks
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.
Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article.
Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
26 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
Not sure if it’s just me, but I avoid taxis as much as possible coming home from a night out. I live a 15 min drive from Cork city, and back when hackney cabs could be booked to pick you up at a certain time/place, I knew the cost was exactly €20 to get home every time, and was happy to pay it. The fares for taxis just varies way too much, and is inevitably more expensive. I’ve genuinely paid anywhere between €26-€39 on the meter for the exact same trip, and I can’t figure out how the price can fluctuate so much, which makes me think I’m getting ripped off in some cases. Much rather not drink and just drive or else have a lift organised from the other half.
@Chris Tee: totally agree its getting prohibitively expensive 2 taxis to my house in and out of town 34 quid thats 7 pints of the black stuff in my local.
The increase in fare is most likely going to turn customers away. My understanding behind the hesitancy of night work is the added risk of danger from theft and the chance the taxi will be soiled leaving it unusable were also part of the equasion
@Seamus Quaide: due to cost of inflation everything is going up and what kind of wealthy knowledge your getting when u pay them ?
You are looking your wealth of knowledge on wrong place.
@Peter Jo: There seems to be a limit to the knowledge of economics in all these scenarios. The answer is always to throw money at it rather than address the root causes.
Not enough houses being built? Give money to developers no matter what the cost. Cost of living increasing? Increase minimum wage. People drink too much? Up the price of booze. People not using enough (mostly non existent) public transport? Up the cost of fuel.
@Don Hogan: see Don, I’m not an economist but I’d say maybe some kind of better public transport and policing, stricter pub licensing (in the U.K., if you’re too drunk, you’re refused drink service, that’s the norm- in ireland, you’re allowed to buy drink til you black out, vomit and punch someone), maybe even on a larger scale- spread employment across the cities and not just Dublin to reduce the outrageous demand on all services in Dublin.
@Stacey Boylan: I’ve heard several horror stories from taxi drivers regarding the foul behaviour from people at night. Verbal abuse, defacation in the cars, urinating, vomiting and physical threats along with people refusing to pay. I wouldn’t work those hours for anything. It’s simply not worth it. I don’t blame your Dad one bit for deciding not to work at night and I’m sorry he had such awful experiences.
@Stacey Boylan: 100% agree. It’s extremely unsafe, unsociable hours. Just like everyone else during Covid taxi drivers also realised life is about more than chasing money, it is important to have some sort of quality of life. Unsociable hours are unhealthy, and dangerous. For the amount of money and exploitative company like Freenow what is the point? Why would anyone work those hours? My partner has been attacked, harassed, got his car damaged, puked in etc. At occasions women were indecent in the back of his car, he got her out, she didn’t pay but said she will accuse him of all sorts. Does anyone get how terrifying is that to a decent person? Getting accused of things, just because he picked up a drunk tart? One got sick in his car, (well known RTE personel) and spewed abuse at him for an hour. The list goes on. He’s a decent fella, calm and collected but coming home from late shifts he has developed anxiety. Everyone who is so judgemental about Taxi drivers and taking only cash fares and all the other vile stuff they think of them should remember, they are also people, they work with the public, and not all of them are exploitative,dirty,unprofessional etc..
Would be nice if there could be more understanding and kindness and less of stereotyping people here.
How much more do we pay for a litre of fuel a pint or a steak compared to 5 years ago. These guys are absorbing all these increases & worth it. As regards night time would you like to work with the risks that are there now at night . Many friends of mine have been robbed , abused , spat at & damage to their cars. I wouldnt do it
Enticed people to stay in. You can get a taxi on mainland Europe for a third of the price. Ireland is increasingly becoming a country that is too expensive for every day living. Public transport is a disaster and now taxis up their price. TAXXXI….!
12% pay hike and they’re still unhappy, nobody absolutely nobody else will get a 12% hike in pay. Before the bleating starts everybody’s fuel and cost of living has risen not just the taxi drivers…. 28k my eye, they earn more than that and most pay a nominal few quid tax… Few genuine ones rest cowboys
Pope Francis had 'peaceful' night in hospital, Vatican says
1 hr ago
4.6k
7 deadly reads
Sitdown Sunday: 'How f**king twisted is that?' - James Murdoch on his relationship with his father
28 mins ago
1.7k
3
Mulhouse
One dead and several police officers wounded in 'Islamist' knife attack in France
Updated
15 hrs ago
36.0k
Your Cookies. Your Choice.
Cookies help provide our news service while also enabling the advertising needed to fund this work.
We categorise cookies as Necessary, Performance (used to analyse the site performance) and Targeting (used to target advertising which helps us keep this service free).
We and our 152 partners store and access personal data, like browsing data or unique identifiers, on your device. Selecting Accept All enables tracking technologies to support the purposes shown under we and our partners process data to provide. If trackers are disabled, some content and ads you see may not be as relevant to you. You can resurface this menu to change your choices or withdraw consent at any time by clicking the Cookie Preferences link on the bottom of the webpage .Your choices will have effect within our Website. For more details, refer to our Privacy Policy.
We and our vendors process data for the following purposes:
Use precise geolocation data. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Store and/or access information on a device. Personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research and services development.
Cookies Preference Centre
We process your data to deliver content or advertisements and measure the delivery of such content or advertisements to extract insights about our website. We share this information with our partners on the basis of consent. You may exercise your right to consent, based on a specific purpose below or at a partner level in the link under each purpose. Some vendors may process your data based on their legitimate interests, which does not require your consent. You cannot object to tracking technologies placed to ensure security, prevent fraud, fix errors, or deliver and present advertising and content, and precise geolocation data and active scanning of device characteristics for identification may be used to support this purpose. This exception does not apply to targeted advertising. These choices will be signaled to our vendors participating in the Transparency and Consent Framework.
Manage Consent Preferences
Necessary Cookies
Always Active
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then these services may not function properly.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we will not be able to monitor our performance.
Store and/or access information on a device 104 partners can use this purpose
Cookies, device or similar online identifiers (e.g. login-based identifiers, randomly assigned identifiers, network based identifiers) together with other information (e.g. browser type and information, language, screen size, supported technologies etc.) can be stored or read on your device to recognise it each time it connects to an app or to a website, for one or several of the purposes presented here.
Personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research and services development 136 partners can use this purpose
Use limited data to select advertising 106 partners can use this purpose
Advertising presented to you on this service can be based on limited data, such as the website or app you are using, your non-precise location, your device type or which content you are (or have been) interacting with (for example, to limit the number of times an ad is presented to you).
Create profiles for personalised advertising 78 partners can use this purpose
Information about your activity on this service (such as forms you submit, content you look at) can be stored and combined with other information about you (for example, information from your previous activity on this service and other websites or apps) or similar users. This is then used to build or improve a profile about you (that might include possible interests and personal aspects). Your profile can be used (also later) to present advertising that appears more relevant based on your possible interests by this and other entities.
Use profiles to select personalised advertising 77 partners can use this purpose
Advertising presented to you on this service can be based on your advertising profiles, which can reflect your activity on this service or other websites or apps (like the forms you submit, content you look at), possible interests and personal aspects.
Create profiles to personalise content 37 partners can use this purpose
Information about your activity on this service (for instance, forms you submit, non-advertising content you look at) can be stored and combined with other information about you (such as your previous activity on this service or other websites or apps) or similar users. This is then used to build or improve a profile about you (which might for example include possible interests and personal aspects). Your profile can be used (also later) to present content that appears more relevant based on your possible interests, such as by adapting the order in which content is shown to you, so that it is even easier for you to find content that matches your interests.
Use profiles to select personalised content 33 partners can use this purpose
Content presented to you on this service can be based on your content personalisation profiles, which can reflect your activity on this or other services (for instance, the forms you submit, content you look at), possible interests and personal aspects. This can for example be used to adapt the order in which content is shown to you, so that it is even easier for you to find (non-advertising) content that matches your interests.
Measure advertising performance 127 partners can use this purpose
Information regarding which advertising is presented to you and how you interact with it can be used to determine how well an advert has worked for you or other users and whether the goals of the advertising were reached. For instance, whether you saw an ad, whether you clicked on it, whether it led you to buy a product or visit a website, etc. This is very helpful to understand the relevance of advertising campaigns.
Measure content performance 60 partners can use this purpose
Information regarding which content is presented to you and how you interact with it can be used to determine whether the (non-advertising) content e.g. reached its intended audience and matched your interests. For instance, whether you read an article, watch a video, listen to a podcast or look at a product description, how long you spent on this service and the web pages you visit etc. This is very helpful to understand the relevance of (non-advertising) content that is shown to you.
Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources 75 partners can use this purpose
Reports can be generated based on the combination of data sets (like user profiles, statistics, market research, analytics data) regarding your interactions and those of other users with advertising or (non-advertising) content to identify common characteristics (for instance, to determine which target audiences are more receptive to an ad campaign or to certain contents).
Develop and improve services 82 partners can use this purpose
Information about your activity on this service, such as your interaction with ads or content, can be very helpful to improve products and services and to build new products and services based on user interactions, the type of audience, etc. This specific purpose does not include the development or improvement of user profiles and identifiers.
Use limited data to select content 38 partners can use this purpose
Content presented to you on this service can be based on limited data, such as the website or app you are using, your non-precise location, your device type, or which content you are (or have been) interacting with (for example, to limit the number of times a video or an article is presented to you).
Use precise geolocation data 43 partners can use this special feature
With your acceptance, your precise location (within a radius of less than 500 metres) may be used in support of the purposes explained in this notice.
Actively scan device characteristics for identification 25 partners can use this special feature
With your acceptance, certain characteristics specific to your device might be requested and used to distinguish it from other devices (such as the installed fonts or plugins, the resolution of your screen) in support of the purposes explained in this notice.
Ensure security, prevent and detect fraud, and fix errors 86 partners can use this special purpose
Always Active
Your data can be used to monitor for and prevent unusual and possibly fraudulent activity (for example, regarding advertising, ad clicks by bots), and ensure systems and processes work properly and securely. It can also be used to correct any problems you, the publisher or the advertiser may encounter in the delivery of content and ads and in your interaction with them.
Deliver and present advertising and content 96 partners can use this special purpose
Always Active
Certain information (like an IP address or device capabilities) is used to ensure the technical compatibility of the content or advertising, and to facilitate the transmission of the content or ad to your device.
Match and combine data from other data sources 68 partners can use this feature
Always Active
Information about your activity on this service may be matched and combined with other information relating to you and originating from various sources (for instance your activity on a separate online service, your use of a loyalty card in-store, or your answers to a survey), in support of the purposes explained in this notice.
Link different devices 50 partners can use this feature
Always Active
In support of the purposes explained in this notice, your device might be considered as likely linked to other devices that belong to you or your household (for instance because you are logged in to the same service on both your phone and your computer, or because you may use the same Internet connection on both devices).
Identify devices based on information transmitted automatically 84 partners can use this feature
Always Active
Your device might be distinguished from other devices based on information it automatically sends when accessing the Internet (for instance, the IP address of your Internet connection or the type of browser you are using) in support of the purposes exposed in this notice.
Save and communicate privacy choices 64 partners can use this special purpose
Always Active
The choices you make regarding the purposes and entities listed in this notice are saved and made available to those entities in the form of digital signals (such as a string of characters). This is necessary in order to enable both this service and those entities to respect such choices.
have your say