[Article] Dublin's taxi fares set to rise

Victor

http://www.breakingnews.ie/2004/09/19/story167200.html

Dublin’s taxi fares set to rise
19/09/2004 - 11:36:50

Taxi fares in Dublin could rise from next year.

A report by a leading economic consultancy has recommended that prices should go up by 5.6% from January.

The proposal, along with a number of recommendations aimed at improving taxi services, will be considered by Dublin city council in the coming week.

Victor

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,2765-1269586,00.html

The Sunday Times - Ireland
September 19, 2004
Dublin's taxi fares poised for new year leap
Siobhan Maguire

TAXI fares in Dublin could be set to rise. A report by a leading economic consultancy recommends that prices go up by an average of 5.6% from January. A journey that now costs €12 would rise to €12.66 under the new regime.

The proposal, along with a number of other recommendations aimed at improving service, will be considered by Dublin city council in the coming weeks. It will fuel concern about rising prices in the wake of reports last week that Ireland is the most expensive country in the European single currency zone.

Tim O’Sullivan, from the council’s traffic department, said that the study had been carried out at the request of taxi unions, but it was up to the four local authorities to decide whether a fare increase should be implemented.

The report finds that the cost of running a car has remained the same since the last fare increase but recommends an increase similar to that in earnings across the rest of the economy.

Further recommendations by Goodbody Economic Consultants include the conversion of all taxi meters to the metric system ahead of plans to switch road signs from miles to kilometres early next year.

The study said: “To avoid taxi meters having to be readjusted to the metric system as distance and speed indications in Ireland are converted, the report combines a review of the fare rates with a conversion to the metric system.”

Tony Smithers, a Sinn Fein councillor and taxi driver, said that a fare hike in January would be “too little, too late” and any increase should be introduced in December.

“We have been waiting almost two years for this increase. We want it in December, in time for Christmas. Taxi fares have to be brought in line with inflation. The industry is all over the place,” he said.

Councillors, however, are reluctant to rule on the delicate issue of fares.

Dermot Lacey, a Labour councillor, said: “Councillors are angry that the transport minister assumed all aspects of the taxi industry except fares. It is an unpopular subject and it portrays an extraordinary amount of cynicism by Seamus Brennan to land this on local representatives.”

According to the Central Statistics Office, average hourly earnings in the industrial sector increased by 5.3% from December 2002 to December 2003.

Goodbody advisers said taxi drivers were entitled to an increase in earnings similar to other sectors of the economy. The new fare proposal will represent an increase in earnings of 7.6%. Under the proposal, the average earnings of a taxi driver in Dublin would rise from €49,000 to more than €52,000.

The report recommends that daytime rates for journeys under one kilometre should rise by €0.65, from €2.75 to €3.40. Rates at night, on Sundays, public holidays, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve would increase from €3 to €3.70 for journeys of less than a kilometre.

Xterminator

Its a small enough increase, and given fuel price rises, could even be justified, if taken on its own.

But as part of the big picture, it is just another nail in rip off irelands coffin. Taxis have become prohibitivley expensive. Prices have doubled in a couple of years, when you take the basic increase, and the mileage increase together.

I personally have changed my habits, from taking taxi's regularly, to only in emergancies. This is as a direct result of the price of taxies .

X

sliabh

Dermot Lacey, a Labour councillor, said: “Councillors are angry that the transport minister assumed all aspects of the taxi industry except fares. It is an unpopular subject and it portrays an extraordinary amount of cynicism by Seamus Brennan to land this on local representatives.”

Ha, ha, what a joke. We want more powers but not the unpopular ones!