Taxi fares likely to increase in the coming months

There is likely to be an increase in taxi fares after a review of the system is completed in the coming months, National Transport Authority (NTA) chairman designate John Fitzgerald said Tuesday.

Maximum taxi fares are reviewed every two years by the NTA, which is the regulatory body for public transport.

The last increase was in 2008. A proposal to increase taxi fares by an average of 4 per cent in 2012 were dismissed after taxi drivers objected to the plan.

Mr Fitzgerald appeared before the Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications and said he expects there to be an increase.

Public consultation on maximum taxi fares is ongoing and the closing date for submissions is December 9th.

“The taxi fees are being looked at and I think there will be a recommendation for an increase,” Mr Fitzgerald said.

“There was a possibility of an increase in 2012 but, as it happened, the taxi people felt themselves that in the interest of competitiveness they didn’t want it.

“Overall, there will be a review and my expectation is that there will be an increase. I haven’t seen anything to suggest otherwise.”

Mr Fitzgerald also told the committee to expect increases in other public transport fares.

“I wish we could avoid any fare increase,” he said. “I would love to be able to say we can avoid any sort of fare increase but, it clearly isn’t possible.

“Subvention from the Exchequer is down about 30 per cent. Usage was down over the past couple of years but is rising again. We’re not happy and the public is not happy with the increases. The companies are not happy with the increases either.

“It is a juggling act to weigh up what the companies need and what we think should be imposed on the public. The reality is if we don’t concede increases we won’t have a public transport system.”

Despite the increases in fares, Mr Fitzgerald said the NTA’s priority is to maximise the number of people using public transport as the upturn in the economy is leading to more motorists on the roads.

“We’re doing everything we can to prioritise initiatives that will boost public transport,” he said.

“It’s really to make public transport more attractive rather than beat people out of their cars. We want to make the offering as attractive as possible so people will choose to use public transport, and there is evidence that is happening.

“The economy is growing again and we’re preparing for the next period of economic activity. This means there is going to be a lot more commuters. If all those commuters decide they want to go into city centres around the country, we won’t have enough space for them and the whole system will gum up.”