Paying by card for a taxi looks set to become easier as the National Transport Authority (NTA) announces plans to require card payment facilities in all taxis.
The proposal is among those contained in the National Maximum Taxi Fare Review Report 2022 published today, with the launch of an online public consultation to consider creating a maximum fare order and further regulations under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013.
Under the proposals taxis will be brought into line with other services across the country after a recommendation to introduce such a provision was first made 2019, but the planned implementation was deferred due to the pandemic.
The 2019 report examined the cost of running a taxi service compared to 2017, and it recommended an increase in the National Maximum Taxi Fare of 4.5% but this was also postponed due to the pandemic.
Today's report has found that overall, the costs associated with operating a taxi increased by approximately 11% from 2017 to 2022.
The 2019 Fare Review recommended a further adjustment of 1% for the extra costs associated with introduction of cashless payment facilities, such as transaction fees and hardware provision, which was factored into today's recommended increase in maximum fares of 12%.
Late last year, NTA Chief Executive Anne Graham appeared before the Oireachtas Committee on Transport to explain the need to regulate in this area and particularly the introduction of a requirement on taxis to take electronic payment.
The new proposals are now open for public consultation and the closing date is Friday, 27 May at 12pm, with the matter to be brought to the NTA board.
The Taxi Fare Review is generally carried out by the NTA every two years to assess operating costs and fares in the SPSV sector.
