![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/00217108-614.jpg\"\/)
\nThe NTA said there is a ‘strong interest’ in joining the taxi sector<\/p>\n
The taxi sector is attracting more new drivers with the highest number on record in 10 years.<\/p>\n
A total of 1,893 licences were issued last year, bringing the total number to 27,891.<\/p>\n
The National Transport Authority (NTA) said the figures, along with its latest research, shows that there is a “strong interest” in joining the sector.<\/p>\n
“We see that business is there and people want to chase that business,” said Director of Transport Regulation Kevin O’Brien.<\/p>\n
However, personal safety and antisocial behaviour remain a key reason not to work late nights or at weekends.<\/p>\n
Mr O’Brien said there have been changes to the driver entry test to modernise it.<\/p>\n
The authority that oversees public transport published a “snapshot” of the sector, based on its latest Small Public Service Vehicle Bulletin and recent taxi driver and consumer research.<\/p>\n
There has been a sharp increase in wheelchair accessible vehicles and in the number of electric cars operating as taxis nationwide.<\/p>\n
It said that overall availability is improving.<\/p>\n
“Seventy six percent of consumers said it was easy to get a taxi on their most recent journey, while the number of respondents who described the experience as ‘very easy\u2019 increased to 34%.”<\/p>\n
For wheelchair users that figure stands at 56%.<\/p>\n
There are 4,781 wheelchair accessible vehicles in operation, which comprises of 23% of the total Small Public Service Vehicle (SPSV) fleet and 26% of the taxi and hackney fleet.<\/p>\n
The NTA Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) Grant Scheme continues to support the growth of an accessible fleet with 519 grants issued last year.<\/p>\n
Mr O\u2019Brien said it is encouraging to see improving availability and the high levels of passenger confidence, adding that the NTA is focused on increasing the numbers available to passengers requiring a wheelchair accessible taxi.<\/p>\n
\nThe NTA said there is a ‘strong interest’ in joining the taxi sector<\/p>\n
Over 1,000 passenger complaints were made last year, with over 50% focused on overcharging.<\/p>\n
He said that many drivers offered refunds, adding that everyone taking a taxi should be aware that there is a maximum amount that can be charged.<\/p>\n
The advice for passengers is “to keep a receipt”.<\/p>\n
The latest research also highlights significant progress in the transition to a more sustainable fleet.<\/p>\n
At the end of 2025, there were 3,306 fully electric SPSVs in operation, a 25% increase on the previous year. Drivers reported average savings of \u20ac95 per week in running costs when using an electric vehicle.<\/p>\n
Passengers also continue to report high levels of safety when using taxi services.<\/p>\n
A total of 97% of passengers feel safe while waiting at a rank while 89% feel safe hailing a taxi on the street.<\/p>\n
The NTA said the findings will help inform the implementation of the SPSV Regulation Action Plan 2026-2028.<\/p>\n
As part of the plan, the NTA will launch a series of public consultations later this year, including on fleet decarbonisation.<\/p>\n
It also said it is continuing to make it simpler for people to provide a taxi service in rural areas.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The taxi sector is attracting more new drivers with the highest number on record in 10 years. A…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":606215,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[72,61,60],"class_list":["post-606214","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business","tag-business","tag-ie","tag-ireland"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/606214","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=606214"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/606214\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/606215"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=606214"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=606214"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=606214"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}