Jim Higgins, MEP for Co Westmeath, has welcomed the new measures announced by Minister for Public Transport, Alan Kelly, which he says will resolve the problems currently in existence in towns like Mullingar and Athlone due to an oversupply of taxis.
Speaking in Brussels, Jim Higgins said, “This is not re-regulation of the industry. It is ensuring there is a certain barrier to entry which will ensure that passengers have a minimum level of service which will be provided to them. The new measures will mean that cowboy operators will quickly find it difficult to stay in the market. It will mean a natural decrease in the number of taxis on the streets to more sustainable levels.”
Among the measures to be introduced include requiring taxi drivers to accept credit cards, as well as introducing a prohibition on the transferability of taxi vehicle licences from October 1. Other measures include a new more tamper-proof taxi plate, and a smart phone application to allow customers to check in real time by phone that the taxi driver is properly licensed.
“In recent years, taxi ranks in Athlone were overflowing at times. It’s about getting the balance right. In the 90s there were not enough taxis in Athlone, but in the past decade, things went too far in the other direction. These new proposals mean professional drivers will be given a fairer crack of the whip, by eliminating rogue operators, and at the same time increasing the service levels provided to the public.”
Jim Higgins also welcomed the news that the Government was to look at the provision of a special new rural hackney licence in order to better serve more remote areas of Co Westmeath. “In recognition of the lower levels of access to taxi or hackney services in rural areas, there is a proposal for the introduction of a Local Area Hackney Licence in the medium-term,” said the Fine Gael MEP.
“This would allow for low-cost entry to the hackney market in rural areas with identified public transport requirements.”
The service would feature specified areas of operation outside of major towns and validation of the need for the service by local community or business organisations.
