HIGHLIGHTING the challenges people in Limerick have in accessing taxi services, Labour councillor Conor Sheehan has urged the government to roll out an information campaign to recruit more taxi drivers.
With a total of 116 new taxi driver licences issued in Limerick in 2023, and 140 between 2020 to 2023, Cllr Sheehan said people in Limerick are struggling due to a lack of available taxi services.
“We are all aware that there’s a huge lack of taxi services in Dublin, and have all heard stories of being left stranded for hours waiting to hail a cab. But Limerick has a problem of its own relative to the size of our city, which is having a huge impact on everyone in the area,” the City North representative told the Limerick Post.
“Only 116 people received taxi driver licences in Limerick in 2023. While it’s unclear how many of those people are working in Limerick City, it’s not enough for the amount of people in the area.”
Cllr Sheehan is of the view that the Irish taxi industry provides a vital and necessary transport function for people who are unable to avail of bus or rail options. He said that taxis that run both on and off-peak play a vital role in plugging public transport infrastructure gaps throughout the county.
“Two groups of people are left really stuck due to this lack of availability – those attending hospital appointments and our young people and revellers on a Saturday night,” he explained.
“We know that government is set on reforming licensing laws to extend opening hours, but if there isn’t access to ample, safe transport options home, the laws won’t be worth the paper they’re written on.”
