Mayo taxi numbers fall by 100 in 10 years
IRELAND is experiencing a taxi shortage across the country with running costs making the occupation a challenge for many would-be taxi drivers.
This is according to insurance experts at Insuremytaxi.ie who say that National Transport Authority (NTA) data shows there are less than 19,500 licensed taxis, hackneys and limousines on Irish roads today, compared to 21,900 ten years ago and 27,429 in 2008.
In Mayo, there are currently approximately 220 taxis in operation - down from over 330 ten years ago. There are 136 hackney operators.
The insurance providers say that several years ago it became unaffordable for many people to pursue a career in the profession due to soaring insurance premiums, but they believe that a new agreement they have reached with insurers should shave hundreds of euros off the average insurance premium, particularly for small public service vehicles outside of Dublin.
Jonathan Hehir, MD of Insuremytaxi.ie, believes that the cheaper premiums will attract greater numbers to the taxi industry and bridge the gap between demand and supply.
He stated: “In Mayo, there are currently approximately 220 taxis in operation, down from over 330 ten years ago. And yet between 2016 and 2022 alone, the population of the county grew by over 2,000.
“This has a negative knock-on effect on both our hospitality and tourism industry. Being left stranded late at night because of a shortage of taxi drivers, particularly at busy times like Christmas or after concerts or festivals, is not a good selling point.
“The shortage of taxis in rural areas is a perennial problem, particularly in isolated rural areas where the cost of providing taxis is often a major obstacle. A better-resourced rural taxi service could help combat social isolation in rural areas, particularly for the elderly.”
He added: “There simply aren’t enough taxis on the roads. We believe our new low-cost insurance will encourage more people to apply for a taxi licence at a time when there is such a shortage of them and hopefully improve the taxi experience for locals and tourists alike. However, the government also needs to take action to alleviate taxi shortages.”
Mr. Hehir called on the government to provide more incentives for young people to enter the taxi business and to address the high insurance costs they often face.