Taxi sharing is being introduced in Dublin over the Christmas period in an effort to prevent the recurrence of the long queues seen over the festive season in previous years.
County councillors in the capital are expected to approve a pilot taxi sharing scheme shortly, after it was approved unanimously yesterday by the joint taxi/hackney committee of the four local authorities.
Dublin Corporation claims the scheme will save passengers between 10 and 45 per cent of standard fares, depending on the length of their journey. It will operate from early December until early in the new year.
The scheme will operate within a nine-mile radius of the city centre. Within this area, there will be three three-mile zones. Inside the first zone - up to three miles out from the city centre - a fare of £3.50 per person sharing will apply. The fare for travelling four to six miles will be £4.50 per person and for seven to nine miles a fare of £6.50 will apply.
Two existing city centre ranks, at Foster Place and Middle Abbey Street, will be dedicated to taxi sharing from 11.30 p.m. Marshalls appointed by Dublin Corporation will control queues and issue fare cards to passengers, who will pay before entering the taxi. The scheme will apply to three passengers and more.
Politicians, gardai and the Dublin Area Taxi Association welcomed the scheme. The chairman of the joint committee, Councillor Stanley Laing, said it represented "a win-win situation for everyone. Passengers will benefit from reduced waiting times and cheaper fixed fares, while taxi-drivers will gain from carrying more fare-carrying passengers".
The Corporation's director of traffic, Mr Owen Keegan, said the arrangement would increase the efficiency of the taxi service.