Change in taxi rule may go to court

UP TO 1,000 taxi drivers who were caught out by the decision to scrap a nine-year rule after only two months in force are to seek compensation from the Government.

The rule, introduced by the taxi regulator, was dropped by the National Transport Authority days before the general election.

From January 1st this year, a taxi driver seeking to renew the licence on his or her car had to have a vehicle which was less than nine years old.

Until the abolition of the rule, on February 22nd, up to 1,000 drivers were due to renew their licences.

Some of these took out loans on new vehicles, while others, who could not source loans or who could not afford to repay them, sold their cars and left the industry.

Frank Byrne, spokesman for taxi driver representative organisation Tiomanaí Tacsaí na hÉireann, said the organisation had had several inquiries from the legal representatives of drivers who were forced to change their cars because of the rule.

They were now considering a class action, he said.

“Drivers are angry and very frustrated that they took on debt they didn’t need,” he said.

“Some borrowed the money from family members and, with the decline in business, they are struggling with those loans. They should be helped in some way with the loans.”

Driver Tommy Maughan told The Irish Timeshe had a "beautiful" Mercedes 2002, but sold it for €1,000 when the regulator's office assured him there would be no change in the nine-year rule. He borrowed €20,000 to pay for a new car.

“I could have done without that debt,” he said.

He also knew drivers who sold their cars cheaply and got out of the business because they could not afford finance or find finance for new cars.

“It is too late for them and it’s put a lot of them over the edge,” Mr Maughan added.