Mayo taxi numbers down 18% from pre-Covid levels

TAXI numbers in Mayo have declined by over 18%, according to new figures from the NTA, highlighting stark regional disparities in access to essential transport.

The figures came in response to a recent parliamentary question by Independent TD Carol Nolan.

This dramatic drop in available taxis raises concerns for the country's vital hospitality industry and everyday passengers, particularly as tourist numbers are expected to surge in the coming months.

Mayo had 453 taxi licences in 2019. That fell to 371 last year, a drop of 18%.

The west has been heavily impacted by taxi shortages in recent years, with licences dropping by almost 9%, which has led to criticism of current SPSV policy by various stakeholders, particularly in hospitality and tourism.

“The significant decrease in taxi availability is a crippling blow to rural Ireland’s hospitality sector,” says Adrian Cummins, CEO of the Restaurants Association of Ireland. “These businesses often rely on taxis to get customers home safely, especially after dark. With little to no public transport links in rural areas and without a vital taxi service, many people simply won't go out, further squeezing already strained rural businesses.

“The government needs to take immediate action to address this issue before it cripples the entire industry entirely.”

The decline in taxi numbers is attributed to a number of factors, including the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic, an onerous entry system, and costly barriers for new drivers - such as outlays of up to €59,000 for a vehicle alone.

The Taxis for Ireland Coalition is calling on the NTA and government to take immediate action to address the shortage. They propose a 30% increase in taxi vehicles by 2027 as a step towards alleviating the impact of driver and vehicle number decrease over the past decade, coupled with Ireland's population growth.

The Taxis for Ireland Coalition is calling for the removal of the WAV requirement for newly registered SPSVs and a re-assessment of the SPSV Driver Entry Test’s geography-based knowledge requirements.

The removal of the WAV requirement but the continuation of the WAV grant would mean a larger pool of taxis to choose from, meaning that people that do not need a WAV will not be booking one unnecessarily.

These measures, they say, would alleviate the current burdens facing prospective new drivers and would increase overall supply into the market.