Munster Express Online

Reply received by Deputy John Deasy (FG) from Fergus Galvin, Acting Director for Corporate Affairs & Transportation with Waterford City Council, in response to representations he made on behalf of David O’Reilly, local taxi driver:‘

The Council is very much aware of the issues raised by the Taxi Drivers and we have met with their representatives on a number of occasions recently both at official level and through our Transportation SPC.

The main issue that the taxi drivers have is understandable – there has been an almost 900% increase in the number of taxis plying for hire in Waterford City since national de-regulation of taxi licences in 2003 and this has not been (and could never be) matched by a proportionate increase in demand which is obliviously putting pressure on those working in the business.

Correspondingly, the Council is not in a position to provide a proportionate increase in the number of taxi ranks in the City centre as the space simply does not exist in the confines of a compact City centre area which is where all of the taxi drivers would like to locate.

We are however, following a meeting with the taxi drivers … considering a number of options which may allow us some small increases in spaces at the existing taxi ranks and the provision of some additional night-time ranks which may alleviate some of the pressure.’

 David O’Reilly had informed Deputy Deasy as follows: ‘Dear John, I suppose you are aware of the trouble currently going on in the taxi industry, especially in Waterford and our growing numbers. We have gone from 42 taxis and 60 hackneys before deregulation to 360 taxis and 100 hackneys now and increasing every week. Our small city centre and the Garda are barely able to cope with our numbers. We have fifteen rank spaces during the day and competition to get on one is leading to serious difficulties.Waterford City Council have written to taxi reps stating they can not facilitate his number of taxis and the population just isn’t there for these numbers. The Garda state that our numbers in the city centre are creating dangers for emergency vehicles. So as you can imagine our life is about paying tickets and fines. I personally have worked eight-hour shifts during the week and gone home with as little as €37.

This is a crazy situation and, not one of taxi drivers’ making, but they seem to be the only ones to suffer. Of course you will be aware come Saturday night at 2.30am you never have enough taxis. All forms of transport including public transport bring these people into the city centres and then abandon them… What bus operates at 2.30am when 7,000 people leave nightclubs and pubs. Obviously if you don’t have 7,000 taxis outside somebody is going to have to wait. Anyway, this is two hours every week; what do taxi do for the other six days? There are still licences being bought, but now they’re bought as a second job.

We have council workers, factory workers and bus drivers driving taxis during their rest periods.’