New national taxi fare structure begins today

The new national taxi fare structure, which has led to repeated protests and work stoppages by taxi drivers in recent months, comes into force today.

The new basic fare of €3.80 during the day and €4.10 at night, supplemented by distance or time-related charges, will apply to taxi journeys everywhere. Most of the existing "extra" charges, such as the €1.50 hiring charge at Dublin airport and luggage charges, and the practice of drivers going "off-meter" will be abolished.

The new structure replaces the system where fares were set by 35 local authorities, which led to a huge variance in rates - from a basic €2.40 to €6.00 - in different parts of the State. In Dublin the basic day-time fare will increase by 40 cent, but in several areas such as Ennis and Tralee basic fares will almost halve.

In addition to the fare changes, a new complaints line, advertised through the media and in taxis, will be operational from 8am today and information on the driver's licence, rates and the rights and responsibilities of passengers will be displayed in large print in all cars. Taxi drivers will have until October 16th to be fully compliant with the new fare and regulations.

Taxi regulator Ger Deering said yesterday that he hoped his difficulties with taxi drivers were now at an end. Drivers represented by the three main taxi unions, the Taxi Drivers Federation, the National Taxi Drivers Union (NTDU) and Siptu, have held several work stoppages and threatened to boycott the Ryder Cup in protest at the changes to the industry, particularly in relation to the loss of income in certain counties and the abolition of the airport pick-up charge.

Mr Deering has consistently refused to alter the new fare structure, but said the fare would be reviewed after an unspecified "bedding down" period.

Unions have agreed to remove the threat a further industrial action to pursue the establishment of a appeals mechanism against the regulator's decisions with the Department of Transport. However, NTDU president Tommy Gorman said yesterday that Mr Deering had "made a bit of a mess" of the introduction of the new system.

Drivers had not yet been given the new fare cards and would be acting illegally if they charged the new fare without displaying the rate. Drivers who would not change over to the new fare structure until October 16th could still charge the Dublin airport hiring charge which would confuse and anger passengers he said. He added that it was unlikely all meters could be changed by that date as the legal metrology service had given a date of December 15th for sealing meters.

"These changes should have been postponed until every driver had a new fare card and the meter situation was sorted out. Ger Deering is misleading everyone if he says this is going to be straightforward, he has made a bit of a mess of it."

Mr Deering said the new fare cards were "in the post" and it was his understanding that all meters could be changed by October 16th. He added that he would be "very happy to work with any appeals body" established by the Government.

Taxi meters: fare changes

• New basic national fare: €3.80 day-time; €4.10 8pm to 8am and public holidays
• Abolition of luggage charges and airport pick-up charges
• Maximum charge of €1 for each additional adult passenger and 50 cents for each additional child
• Maximum €2 charge for telephone bookings
• €125 soiling charge
• Taxi-drivers must give all customers a printed, not handwritten, receipt.