Irish Taxi Deregulation
Deregulation has led to a massive increase in the supply of taxis, increasing by 377% between deregulation and the end of last year. The demand for taxis, however, has only increased by 5%. There is a significantly larger volume of taxis competing for only a slightly increased number of passengers. As a result, taxi drivers are being forced to work long hours, which has other implications for road safety.
The cost of running a taxi has not decreased but has increased by 8%. The figures I am quoting do not do justice to the hardship suffered by taxi drivers and their families since deregulation. They have been pushed to the edge and forced to work long hours. A review carried out on behalf of the National Taxi Drivers' Union by Marketing and Strategic Management estimated that taxi fare revenue has fallen by 20% since deregulation. Many families have been driven to the wall by the Government's ill thought out deregulation policy.
Prior to 1983 21 American cities deregulated taxi services. By 1993, 17 of them, including all major ones, had re regulated taxi services as none of the promised beneficial effects had materialized. In 1990, Sweden deregulated and then in 1995 effectively re-introduced regulation again. We need to seriously look at what the results of deregulation have been. Has the quality of service improved? Are there dangers from lack of regulation about who is getting taxi licenses? Are people safer using taxis now than they were before de-regulation? It is unfortunate that it has taken protests and strikes by taxi drivers in Waterford and other major cities to bring these important questions to the minister's attention. He needs to take responsibility for this situation and answer these questions now.
Too many taxis too few customers
December 05/12/2008 Ireland's Bus companies get fare rises because not enough customers are using buses according to the minister for Transport Noel Dempsey on Mat Coopers radio show "The Last Word". He said Bus Companies are not able to meet there own operational costs. Yet when told the very same thing by the Taxi industry he refuses to believe it, this despite the fact that Taxis are four times more expensive than Taxis.
