Public consultation on taxi fares will begin tomorrow when the Commission for Taxi Regulation begins a four-week review of the costs of taking taxis.
Taxi users, drivers and other interested parties can submit their views on the national maximum taxi fare as part of a biannual check on costs to the public.
Announcing the review Taxi Regulator Kathleen Doyle said they had introduced a national maximum fare where previously there were different fares in various regions. This is reviewed every two years and the 2010 review, the third review undertaken by the regulator, will last until August 16th.
The outcome, which will be announced in September 2010, will decide whether the national maximum fare should be increased, decreased or remain the same. Ms Doyle said the views received in the submissions will be taken into consideration when making a decision.
The review will look at the operation and every day running costs including maintenance and fuel as well as licence fees and insurance.
The regulator said that when the last review was undertaken in 2008, they increased taxi fares based on the running and operations costs at the time. But, she said, "we’re in a different economic situation now".
Submissions can be made on line at http://farereview.taxiregulator.ie/ where background information is given on how the fare works and six key questions to complete. Those wishing to make a submission can also download the form and post it to the Commission. Further information is available at 01 659 3800.
Ms Doyle made the announcement in advance of a meeting of the Oireachtas transport committee at which the Revenue Commissioners said that 20 per cent of taxi drivers had tax compliance issues during a recent check in Galway.
Assistant Secretary Norman Gillanders said a multi-agency group of 22 officials including gardai, revenue commissioners checked the papers of about 100 taxi drivers and some 20 per cent had compliance issues. He said the figure was reflected in checks in other parts of the State.
Those with compliance issues included eight people who had not filed tax returns even though they were on the register. "Six of the cases we found on that night in Galway had ceased operation according to Revenue records, but they were there on the rank doing taxi business. Three said they only started as drivers that week and we had to investigate that.”
Mr Gillanders said: "We’ve done these checkpoints all around the country, and the issue would be whether and how we can organise ourselves to perhaps do some more of them." He said that "when the checkpoints appear certainly the taxi traffic thins out quickly. So I think the element of surprise to get in and out in sufficient numbers to make an impact is the hallmark of how we do this work".
Transport committee chairman Frank Fahey said this kind of check was something the committee had asked for previously. "I think the fact that so many people disappear when such an exercise takes place, does prove the point that has been made time and again, by legitimate full-time taxi operators . . . and it will certainly help to keep the cowboys out of the business. It certainly is the easiest business to be in, in the black market and the response is very welcome and better late than never."
The committee also heard that taxi drivers’ incomes were being eroded by people who were "double jobbing" and working less than 40 hours a week. Galway Taxi Association chairman Declan McEntee said this was forcing full-time drivers to work excessive hours and this was a serious health and safety issue.
Mr McEntee said that "if you own a taxi you have to renew your licence every year and provide a tax clearance certificate but if you’re a driver, not a licence holder you only have to produce it every five years". He said a licence should be issued every year and rather than the five year €250 fee, drivers should pay €50 each year.
Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Timmy Dooley said the system fell down where the work of bus and truck drivers was controlled by tachograph yet “they can get out of a truck or bus and sit into a taxi” and drive for as long as they want without any checks.
