asked the Minister for Supplies if he is aware that while motor cars plying for hire in the county boroughs are subject to control in the matter of fares charged, no such control is exercised in the cases of cars plying in country districts, with the result that often poor people who are forced to hire cars in time of urgency such as sickness, etc., have to pay exorbitant fares for such cars; and whether the Minister will take steps to fix the fares for hackney motor cars in the country areas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hackney Motor Car Fares.
Taxi fares in the Boroughs of Dublin and Cork are normally controlled by orders made by the Commissioner of the Gárda Síochána with the consent of the Minister for Local Government and Public Health. Since the outbreak of the war such control has been exercised under the Emergency Powers following consultation with my Department.
The charges made by hackney car owners in districts other than the two county boroughs mentioned, including provincial districts, have been examined in my Department on several occasions since the outbreak of war. I have not considered it necessary to control these charges by Order. Many obvious difficulties would arise in determining charges appropriate to all areas and circumstances. Should it become evident, however, that the serious exploitation of the public by hackney owners has become prevalent, I will consider again the control of their charges by Order.