Letter to NTA, Tariff 3.

[Belker]

My letter to the NTA regarding Tariff 3.

To whom it may concern at the NTA.

Firstly congratulations to whomever at the NTA solved the almost unsolveable problem of taxi shortages in Irish cities on weekend nights by introducing the weekend tariff 3, Take a Bow !, it was brilliant and works perfectly.

But unfortunately ye missed a spot, that being the Sunday night/Monday morning midnight to 4am of Bank holiday weekends to also include 17th and 18th March. 
Taxi drivers in general are horrendous creatures of habit and very set in their routines, and a lot of them especially those that live outside the cities will not work any Sunday night regardless if it's a Bank holiday or not, Tariff 3 on those nights might change their minds.

[Dr. Martin Gooter Bling]

It's a cock up. Taxis are expensive enough already. The public are gettin caught off guard by fares ballooning on them. It was cooked up to incentivise more taxi drivers to work to address an alleged taxi shortage on a saturday night.There is no shortage of taxis on a saturday night. By adopting it the NTA and taxi drivers are conceeding that there is in fact a shortage of taxis. There is no shortage of taxis.

[watty]

The NTA might argue there is enough taxis, 16,000 in Dublin alone, but there's not enough when they're needed on Fri/Sat night.  Far too many old-timers (childers gone and mortgage paid) are happy to sit outside shopping centres reading the newspapers and doing the odd fiver run home with the housewives and their shopping.  They might say we need some get-up-and-go, some dynamism, some fresh blood!

[Rat Catcher]

There's certainly merit in both the arguments above i.e. from Ken and Doc.

As far as not including BH Sundays and Paddy's Day (the busiest night of the year) in Rate 3 goes... that was just pure stupidity but typical of the level of incompetence we expect from the halfwits in NTA.

Rate 3 fares turning folk off using taxis is certainly an issue and one that probably extends beyond Rate 3 times. Most folk don't pay much attention to different rates and such like so some will inevitably get the impression that taxis are always that expensive so avoid using them at all times and/or dismiss us out of hand as a potential inclusion in an alternative to car ownership.

[mercenary for hire]

It's a very small window of work that would affect an insigficant number of night drivers to justify us all paying for installers and meter seals all over again.

My taxi has only ever been working tariff 1 except on Sunday day shift in the last ten years.

The easing of the geography exam will ensure there are more taxis available more of the time as drivers struggle to make an easy living on the day shift.Some will move to nights and any perceived shortages will be filled in a year or two as the economy slows more.

Let's hope I'm wrong but that's kinda what happened the last time.

[Bob Shillin]

It certainly has worked in providing more taxis, and it's worth looking into applying it to other days as suggested. It's still worth rememberng that  max difference it can make over tariff 2  €6.50 if 15km travelled, after that no different to tariff 2.

[Rat Catcher]

There's no telling how many €6.50s we'd need to cover the €240+ programming/sealing fee... Maybe they could tweak it at the next fare change?

[Wherewolf]

The NTA might argue there is enough taxis, 16,000 in Dublin alone, but there's not enough when they're needed on Fri/Sat night.  Far too many old-timers (childers gone and mortgage paid) are happy to sit outside shopping centres reading the newspapers and doing the odd fiver run home with the housewives and their shopping.  They might say we need some get-up-and-go, some dynamism, some fresh blood!

That's 2 years ago. Given the influx of new drivers I would say the age profile has changed big time

[watty]

Thanks for reminding me.  They published new stats in July 2025 --> SPSV Statistics for Ireland – Statistical Bulletin No. 1 2025 (PDF)

Driver Age Profile: Figure 8 provides the breakdown of the SPSV driver age profile for Ireland from 2016 to 2024. (Page 17)



If my maths is correct -

About ~66% over the age of 50 and ~33% under...

37% over the age of 60 and 11% over 70 

[C5]

The taxi fares are fucking ridiculous a fare in Galway that used to cost from the square to lurgan pk/murrough drive used to cost max with the 18 with worst traffic but its gone to over 24 euro according to my mother the taxi she took from big o on the rank the guy wouldn't go through renmore pk he stuck to the main road all the way in a traffic jam to get there. Those fuckers are giving the taxis who will look for the best route a bad name. My mother now is on bus only from now on. Another taxi customer lost.

[Belker]

The taxi fares are fucking ridiculous a fare in Galway that used to cost from the square to lurgan pk/murrough drive used to cost max with the 18 with worst traffic but its gone to over 24 euro according to my mother the taxi she took from big o on the rank the guy wouldn't go through renmore pk he stuck to the main road all the way in a traffic jam to get there. Those fuckers are giving the taxis who will look for the best route a bad name. My mother now is on bus only from now on. Another taxi customer lost.

There is no shortage of Taxi drivers Acting the Maggot, but that is a separate topic.

[Belker]

It's a cock up. Taxis are expensive enough already. The public are gettin caught off guard by fares ballooning on them. It was cooked up to incentivise more taxi drivers to work to address an alleged taxi shortage on a saturday night.There is no shortage of taxis on a saturday night. By adopting it the NTA and taxi drivers are conceeding that there is in fact a shortage of taxis. There is no shortage of taxis.

I dunno where you work Gerry, but there was a serious shortage of Taxis on weekend nights where I work in Cork city, it was Bedlam every Fri and Sat night to get a Taxi prior to the introduction of the weekend Tariff 3, as was frequently reported in the media.

[Belker]

It's a very small window of work that would affect an insigficant number of night drivers to justify us all paying for installers and meter seals all over again.  .....

Thanks MFH, I will edit my letter to state that the new rate dates to be applied at the next fare review.

[Belker]

It certainly has worked in providing more taxis, and it's worth looking into applying it to other days as suggested. It's still worth rememberng that  max difference it can make over tariff 2  €6.50 if 15km travelled, after that no different to tariff 2.

Indeed so Harry, Tariff 2B kicks in after 15km travelled and is exactly the same as Tariff 3 at 2.20 per KM.

[John m]

Reply

Dear Driver ,
   Thank you for your kind response to our initiative .Unfortunatly Service Providers do not reflect the success of the Increased tarriffs .They say they have unfulfilled demand at Peak times and also on major Sporting and Cultural events like Parades events and Concerts .

In line with the Industry Blueprint we have yet to introduce as Suggested In Goodbody a Prime Time Plate .This will mirror the old tried and trusted Pre Dereg Hack .The Service providers who have been operating a Prime time window on their Apps to distinguish between High and Low demand .They have even offered Bobo to incentivise Licenced Drivers to compete at these times with Limited Success .

At Present the Major Taxi App providers have Proposed in Line with Goodbody Industry Blueprint ,That the Taxithingey should release half Plates that could be administered by LICENCED DISPATCHERS by means of Digital fixed fares at prime Time .As these Drivers could only access work at Prime times .Only with the NTA dedication of a time slot as Prime could these Applications offer work to Half Plate Drivers .

This Proposal is under consideration .We recently asked the Public and Drivers about reducing the Geography element as Apps can download directions to operators .We also asked Drivers if they worked the Golden 8 .

The Proposal under consideration is In line with Goodbody the Industry Blueprint to Issue Prime Time Licences to be operated by LICENCED DISPATCHERS to provide Prime Time Services for PASSENGERS while retaining Licenced taxi services for Fullly licenced drivers .Who can both answer Application hails and on street hails in line with present licencing requirements .

The Taxithingey strives to service BOTH Service Providers and SERVICE USERS .As Full time licenced Taxi service Providers may incur higher operating Costs .We have devised a Grant system for SERVICE PROVIDERS to upgrade their vehicles .

Recent changes at Dublin Airport wher App Providers have provided back up services to existing licenced taxi drivers by means of App pre booking services fot Taxis .Wheelchair Accessable and Limousines has been very successfull in alleviating taxi shortages at Prime Times .

Yours .
Anonomous Civil Servant

There are two sides to the Trade USERS and Drivers .MORE USERS .Its Ridehare as described in Goodbody .I would not bet a Cent against Half plates being issued before Christmas 2026.