Over-supply, poor regulation, and rogue operators in the taxi industry look set to be eliminated with the Government’s new report on the industry.
This is the view of Labour Galway West TD Derek Nolan who believes the report “has the potential to radically improve the taxi sector for both passengers and drivers”.
According to Dep Nolan, Galway has experienced serious problems in the taxi industry due to over-supply and rogue operators, resulting in legitimate taxi drivers “struggling to make ends meet”.
The Government’s new report envisages a new vehicle licensing regime to stop the transfer of licences between drivers while renting of licences will be seriously curtailed. There will also be greater efforts made to tackle illegal operators. The issue of oversupply will also be addressed. Dep Nolan estimates that oversupply “is estimated at anywhere between 13 and 22 per cent nationally” and is “anecdotally higher in Galway”.
The report also proposes extending enforcement controls to the Gardai, barring drivers with serious criminal records from working in the industry, and improving the complaints system.
