Posted online: Mar 12th, 2010

Representatives from the Letterkenny Taxi Owners’ Association met with members of Letterkenny Town Council this week to try and resolve grievances that led to a mass protest by taxis in the town on Tuesday.
Speaking after the meeting on Wednesday, spokesperson for the Letterkenny Taxi Owners’ Association Hugh McFadden said that there had been “constructive” dialogue. This week’s protest was part of a national dispute with the Taxi Regulator.
“We had a constructive meeting,” Mr McFadden told the Post.
“The councillors are on our side. They admit that the whole industry is over-regulated and that we have a grievance. We have to meet up again and see if we can facilitate the taxis and the business people as well.”
Among the contentious issues were proposals to introduce more cars, to prevent taxis from using cars that are over nine years old, the compulsory introduction of first-aid kits and fire extinguishers, the lack of taxi ranks available, and rising costs.
“At the end of the day, enough is enough. You could take it that every single driver is earning below the minimum wage. Most of us are lucky if we earn €5 an hour and most of the drivers are working very long hours.”
There are 324 hackneys, 20 limousines, 209 taxis and another 26 vehicles with wheelchair access in Donegal.
“If you take it that two thirds of the 235 taxis in Donegal are operating in Letterkenny – we have 27 legal parking spaces in the whole of Letterkenny. It’s crazy to even think about that.”
The Irish Taxi Council has threatened to call a national taxi strike in order to highlight its grievances.
“The way the socio-economic situation is at the minute, we’re lucky if we can run our car. It’s bad. It’s very bad,” Hugh concluded.