Taxi Licences
Seanad Éireann — 2026-06-30
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Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (FF), Labour Panel

I thank the Minister of State for coming in today to take this Commencement matter. Being from Cork, I think he will agree with me about the shortage of taxis, particularly in big towns and cities.
I welcome the opportunity to raise the growing shortage of taxis across Ireland, a problem that is increasingly affecting public mobility, social inclusion, economic activity and accessibility in communities across the country. What was once an occasional inconvenience has become a persistent transport problem. Whether people are trying to attend a hospital appointment, get home from work, return safely after a night out or travel to a major event, they increasingly find that taxis are simply not available when they need them.
The figures are concerning. National Transport Authority data show that the number of taxi licences in operation fell from over 27,000 in 2019 to just over 26,000 in 2023, a reduction of more than 1,000 vehicles nationally. More significantly, licence numbers have fallen in 23 of the Twenty-six Counties since 2019, with some counties experiencing particularly sharp declines. These figures do not simply represent vehicles disappearing from the road; they represent people being left stranded and high and dry.
Every weekend, constituents tell us the same story. After social events, sporting fixtures and nights out, they face long waits, repeated app rejections or no available taxis at all. This raises serious road safety concerns.
We rightly encourage people not to drink and drive, yet in many towns and rural communities there is no reliable way to get home safely at night. The problem is especially visible during major events. Anyone who attended Zach Bryan’s concert in Cork or the ongoing concerts in Marlay Park or Malahide Castle will be familiar with the difficulties people face trying to get home afterwards. Concertgoers report long waits, extensive walks to find transport and exceptionally high fares driven by the scarcity of taxis. Some have even left events early due to concerns about being stranded. This is not just an inconvenience; it risks damaging Ireland’s reputation as a destination for tourism and major events such as those big concerts.
The consequences are even more serious for older people, people with disabilities and those attending medical appointments. Many people rely on taxis to access healthcare, particularly where public transport options are limited. For someone attending a hospital appointment, cancer treatment or a dialysis session access to a taxi is not a luxury; it is a necessity.
The economic impact is significant too. Hospitality businesses, pubs, restaurants and tourism operators report that customers are choosing to stay at home because they cannot rely on getting transport home. Rural businesses are particularly affected where alternative transport options are limited or often do not exist.
This issue has moved far beyond being a major inconvenience. It affects people’s ability to access healthcare, participate in social life, support local businesses and return home safely after events. It has a disproportionate impact on older people, people with disabilities, those living in rural communities and those without access to a private car.
I, therefore, ask the Minister of State to acknowledge that Ireland is facing a genuine taxi availability or non-availability crisis and to bring forward a comprehensive plan to increase taxi numbers nationwide. That plan should address barriers to entry for new drivers, incentives to attract and retain drivers, measures to improve rural coverage and solutions for major events where demand regularly overwhelms supply.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-06-30/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:07+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-30