Dublin’s taxi drivers will benefit financially from a proposed new fare structure, according to Dublin Corporation.
The Corporation today denied claims by unions representing drivers that the elimination of the luggage handling charge would mean drivers would be worse off despite an increase in the per-mile charge.
Taxi drivers are threatening industrial action over the new pricing structure which has been passed by three of Dublin’s four local authorities.
If the proposals are approved by Fingal County Council at their next meeting then the Corporation is expected to adopt the new system.
Taxi drivers were in militant mood at their annual general meeting in May over the elimination of luggage charge. "We were given a clear directive if local authorities take away our extras we are to ballot for industrial action," said Mr Vincent Kearns, vice-president of National Taxi Drivers’ Union.
However, ireland.comhas learned drivers are likely to accept the fare increase provided the luggage charge remained and were willing to forego the existing charge for carrying animals.
A ballot will not take place until after Fingal County Council meet in July to vote on the issue. Mr Kearns said it was decided after a union executive meeting last night that councillors from Fingal should be lobbied before their vote on July 2nd.
Mr Kearns also echoed a call from the Irish Taxi Drivers Federation president Mr John Ussher, who said the power to set pricing structures for taxis should be taken away from local authorities.
Ms Eileen Brady, in the Office of the Director of Traffic at the Corporation rejected the call and said the joint local authority committee on taxis had considered a number of specially-commissioned reports before making a recommendation.
"The recommendation to the council is for a quite transparent fare structure.. to simplify things from the consumer’s point of view".
Under the proposed system, the per-mile rate will increase by 16 per cent from 90p to £1.05 but the 40 pence per item of luggage charge will be abandonned.
Charges of 40 pence per passenger (excluding the first passenger) per trip after 8 o’clock and a further 40 pence after midnight would be retained.
The corporation say this a net increase of 10.8 per cent.