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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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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mick McDonagh
    Favourite Mick McDonagh
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    Nov 16th 2014, 8:13 AM

    In/Out- a new brothel comedy starring Aido and Nadine.

    694
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    Mute Helen Scallan
    Favourite Helen Scallan
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    Nov 16th 2014, 9:12 AM

    Brilliant and sure whatever Elmo gets up to is Gnome man’s business!

    226
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    Mute Mr Phil Officer
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    Nov 16th 2014, 10:02 AM

    Good one mick )

    17
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    Mute David Doyle
    Favourite David Doyle
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    Nov 16th 2014, 8:27 AM

    Aido in the new version of “How clean is your house “

    653
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    Mute Roy Scott
    Favourite Roy Scott
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    Nov 16th 2014, 8:44 AM

    Trish doing the great Dublin bake off would do !

    187
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    Mute Frank Dwyer
    Favourite Frank Dwyer
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    Nov 16th 2014, 9:46 AM

    How about a prequel series bring all the characters back

    184
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    Mute fergal ohagan
    Favourite fergal ohagan
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    Nov 16th 2014, 10:19 AM

    Nidge……. Dead
    Tommy……vegetable
    Elmo……… Doing time
    Fran………. Doing time
    Patrick…… On the run, presumably
    Siobhan…. Dead
    Aido is the only main character that is free
    Where does Love/Hate go in season 6???????

    161
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    Mute John
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    Nov 16th 2014, 11:12 AM

    Gritty prison drama.

    58
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    Mute STARVIN MARVIN
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    Nov 16th 2014, 12:38 PM

    Who said nudge was dead !!!!!!

    9
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    Mute fergal ohagan
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    Nov 16th 2014, 12:39 PM

    Who’s nudge?!

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    Mute STARVIN MARVIN
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    Nov 16th 2014, 12:54 PM

    Ha ha sorry fergal nidge

    20
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    Mute Theresa Kavanagh Connell
    Favourite Theresa Kavanagh Connell
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    Nov 16th 2014, 8:52 AM

    It’s run its course, it won’t have the same impact again after taking a long break. Fans will be annoyed with the ending. We all know nidge is dead now so it’s over.

    137
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    Mute Roy Dowling
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    Nov 16th 2014, 8:53 AM

    A spin off show for Aido and Nadine has to happen.

    112
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    Mute Linda Whelan
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    Nov 16th 2014, 8:49 AM

    That’s a shame.. hope Stuart keeps writing though as that programme was fantastic!

    95
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    Mute Marko Burns
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    Nov 16th 2014, 8:51 AM

    Sorry, but there was no real plot in LH. There were only characters. It wasn’t even a crime series really. If it does come back it should have an actual story and be about something.

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    Mute Gambon
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    Nov 16th 2014, 8:59 AM

    Effin idiot.

    149
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    Mute Eoin O'Neill
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    Nov 16th 2014, 9:14 AM

    Seasons 1-3 were good, 4 &5 had promise but none of the story arcs tied together in either of these seasons finales.

    80
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    Mute Foghorn Leghorn
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    Nov 16th 2014, 10:41 AM

    I’m with you on that, never got the big fuss with it. Something for the mammys at work to feel cool about watching cause it’s irish, gritty and dark.
    Sorry folks I know I’m gonna get slaughtered with down thumbs now, just my opinion

    51
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    Mute Dave O'Hanlon
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    Nov 16th 2014, 1:38 PM

    It had more of a plot than some of the bigger budget US shows

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    Mute Kieran Stafford
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    Nov 16th 2014, 10:36 AM

    What about gits finger, tommy waking up, Terence big balls coming after Trish and Warren for Nidge messing up, how Fran fares out in prison after the rape, Aido and Nadine running the brothel, Elmo and the stash of drugs he knows about up in the hills. Lot of stuff to work with here for another series and more

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    Mute Larry David the 2nd
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    Nov 16th 2014, 12:22 PM

    You should apply for a job a writer that’s very good I am already looking forward to it now!

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    Mute Kieran Stafford
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    Nov 16th 2014, 12:28 PM

    Why thank you Larry

    21
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    Mute johngahan
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    Nov 16th 2014, 8:48 AM

    Fran will take a while to recover.

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    Mute Fran Heavey
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    Nov 16th 2014, 9:01 AM

    Apparently Fran has other commitments such as the new series of Through the Arse Hole

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    Mute Stephen Rattigan
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    Nov 16th 2014, 8:39 AM

    Devastated

    64
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    Mute Gerry McNally
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    Nov 16th 2014, 9:45 AM

    Trish has a new part in Ireland’s Desperate Housewives.

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    Mute Shínner Ó Bhot
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    Nov 16th 2014, 1:32 PM

    They should bring back the IRA guys, they were deadly.

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    Mute Dave Murray
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    Nov 16th 2014, 10:32 AM

    What are the scobies of Ireland going to watch now?

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    Mute Irish Red
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    Nov 16th 2014, 10:38 AM

    Downton Abbey?

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    Mute Dave O'Hanlon
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    Nov 16th 2014, 10:45 AM

    whatever it is they always watch

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    Mute Shanti
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    Nov 16th 2014, 1:34 PM

    If they’re “taking their time” and it won’t be back next year, then does this mean the next love / hate will be doing a skins and focusing on an entirely different set of characters?

    Ones who may male reference to the originals but seem to think they know better than them?

    10
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    Mute Andy Lane
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    Nov 17th 2014, 9:00 AM

    Terence has put pressure on Trish to pay back the money he gave Nidge. She has taken over his businesses, with one eye on getting revenge on Patrick. Meanwhile, the ‘RA muscle in to try and fill the void left by Nidge and to get revenge for his apparent murder of Git Loughman, bringing them into conflict with Terence and Trish, and they recruit a newly released Fran to infiltrate their operation in exchange for getting back at Noely. Ado is running the brothel with Nadine and doesn’t like or trust Fran after his brother lost his eye. Tommy recouperates and gets manipulated by Trish into taking revenge on Patrick for killing Siobhan despite him just wanting to get out and raise Leighton.

    5
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