Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 June 2021
79. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider implementing a moratorium on the issuing of new taxi licences for 2022 recognising the need for existing taxi drivers to resume full-time work after the pandemic. [32438/21]
View answerThere is widespread awareness of the acute difficulties facing the taxi industry today. Since the pandemic started the number of licenced vehicles has declined and very few people are choosing to enter the industry. In view of that reality I don’t see how a moratorium would deliver any real benefit to anyone.
The Government has not exercised quantitative controls on taxi licences for nearly two decades. The consequences of such quantitative controls in the past were that passengers routinely endured lengthy queues for taxis at ranks. Dublin in particular suffered from a chronic undersupply of taxis. A moratorium on the issuance of licences would not serve the interests of those who use taxis and I do not support it. There are no plans to reintroduce such controls.
