Madam, – As a taxi driver I want to outline the financial position of a driver who is working for example 12 hours a day, six days per week (ie 72 hours).
After deductions for all expenses, namely: depreciation; taxi company rental; petrol/diesel; insurance; repairs and maintenance; NCT; taxi-plate licence; suitability check and Dublin Airport taxi permit, his net income would be approximately €340 per week, or €4.72 per hour.
In addition, when he is working at night, it is a high-risk job. He can have no family or social life and will be constantly exhausted working such long hours.
How would the Minister for Transport or the Taxi Regulator like to work those hours for that money, I wonder. Should they doubt the above figures, I would be more than willing to justify them before an independent arbitrator. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I would like to extend my thanks and gratitude to the striking taxi drivers at Dublin Airport on Tuesday night for helping me realise just how much cheaper, easier and convenient it is to get the bus home from the airport.
Without their actions I would have continued to take taxis from the airport without realising what a fantastic alternative bus companies offer. – Yours, etc,