Recommendation on taxi-meter areas.

Taximeter areas

 Extension of the Dublin Taximeter area into North Kildare.

This will ensure commuters are not refused a taxi because they are outside the taximeter area.

Taximeter area for the rest of the County subject to agreement with Town Councils.

This allows maximum freedom for travelling public and taxi providers.

 Taxi fare structure

 Recommend that we adopt the fares that apply in the Dublin taximeter area for the entire County.  (Taxis will at no point need to turn off the meter).

Recommend we adopt the mechanism for increases in charges in line with cost increases. 

Hackney issues 

Gardai are concerned about insurance indemnity and hackneys operating outside the law.

Hackney is private hire – Taxi is public hire – different rules.

Complaints by members of the public to Gardai who can only deal with problems if hackneys are operating within taxi meter area.

Hackneys cannot use bus lanes – complaints from trade.

 Legal/Practical requirements

 Local Authority would place advert in local paper(s) notifying of designated Taximeter area.

Negotiate with Dublin and Town Authorities.

Taxi rank regime would need to be worked out on a town-by-town and village-by-village basis.  The provision of part-time taxi ranks i.e. 8.00pm to 4.00a.m. at entertainment venues should be a feature of this.

A target date should be fixed for introduction.

 Submission to Department of Environment

 A study is underway in the Department of Environment in relation to further issues relating to the taxi market including the quality of the service and who should regulate it.

Source: Dublin City Council