Sir, - In reply to your Editorial of November 6th, contrary to the opinion of many in the media there are many taxi licence owners/ operators like myself who feel Dublin does require an increase in taxi licences. However, I do not subscribe to the notion of deregulation as outlined in the much publicised Oscar Faber report.
Oscar Faber projected the economic circumstances of Dubliners to 2008 and predicted supply/demand figures based on these. But even our most eminent economic minds appear to have difficulty predicting our circumstance in 10 months' time, let alone 10 years.
No mention is made in the entire report of the effects of the introduction of the Luas or the inevitable privatisation of Dublin Bus. The introduction of a light rail system in Manchester and Sheffield resulted in such disastrous downturns in the fortunes of taxi operators that a total review of the taxi trade in both cities is under way.
Examples of deregulation of the taxi industries in the world's major cities are few. In Edinburgh, an attempt to deregulate taxi licences resulted in hundreds of licences being withdrawn from the market and compensation being paid to those involved. A further example of deregulation occurred in Seattle, Washington; the resultant drop in both vehicle standards and driver standards has resulted in the introduction of random drug-testing for taxi drivers.
The regulation of taxi licence numbers through the restriction of driver access, vehicle access or actual licence appears to be the most workable solution. In London, for example, to obtain a public service vehicle licence, drivers undergo "The Knowledge", which on average requires three to five years' full-time study followed by a test of their knowledge of the city. They are then required to supply a black taxi only, at a cost of £28,000 which is both VAT and VRT exempt. Observers estimate the entire cost of study time plus vehicle at £85,000.
In New York, there has been a total revamp of both driver qualification and an increase in licence numbers. The former entails English language classes for drivers combined with more rigorous testing of driver's city knowledge. The latter resulted in the city authorities auctioning yellow cab licences to existing drivers (renters) for fees in excess of $150,000.
No person who visits either city can argue with the abundance of taxis and, although I am loath to admit it, I believe Dublin Corporation has got it right with its proposals. I do have reservations about the final numbers, which will see an increase of 1,200 taxis, or approximately 63 per cent, by the year 2002. There is a restriction on driver access as only renters will qualify for the new licences, and a restriction on vehicle type, as only wheelchair accessible vehicles will qualify. Finally, the "fee" is £15,000.
Experience, as everyone is aware, is the best teacher and the proposals will soon see a high standard of both driver and vehicle while ensuring an abundance of taxis for the travelling public. - Yours, etc.,
Peter Killian,
(taxi owner/operator),
Castleknock,
Dublin 15.