Taxi prices set to jump 12% as NTA launches consultation

Taking taxis is set to become more expensive as taxi regulator the National Transport Authority launches a period of public consultation on its plans for a 12 per cent price increase across the industry.

The move follows lobbying from the taxi industry in relation to costs of insurance and fuel, both of which, it argues, have risen significantly since the last review in 2019.

Public consultation on the increase, which ends on May 27th, will be accompanied by a further public consultation on plans to make it mandatory for taxis to carry facilities for card payments.

The increase would be the first increase since 2018, when the authority permitted a 4.5 per cent increase to the maximum prices permitted. A review in 2019, which recommended further increases, was set to be implemented in 2020 but was deferred due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

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The transport authority said the recommendation to introduce card payment facilities in all cabs was also planned for implementation in early 2020, but was also deferred because of the pandemic.

Public consultation

The National Transport Authority said taxis would now be brought into line with other services, as cashless payments were the norm in shops, supermarkets and restaurants.

Overall the costs associated with operating a taxi increased between 2017 and 2022 by about 11 per cent, according to the authority.

An increase in maximum taxi fare levels to reflect this, accompanied by a further 1 per cent to cover the cost of cashless payment facilities, gives rise to the figure of 12 per cent.

These proposals are now open for public consultation until Friday, May 27th, at noon, with the matter to be brought to the NTA board for consideration shortly afterwards.

The consultation is not expected to result in the authority’s proposals being overturned.

The taxi fare review is generally carried out by the NTA once every two years or so to assess operating costs and fares in the sector.

The Irish Times has contacted a number of taxi representative groups for comment, but none immediately responded.