60% say taxi availability impacts how often they go out in Dublin

Michael Bolton

60 per cent of people who socialise regularly in Dublin say knowing it will be difficult to get a taxi home afterwards impacts how often they go out.

A survey from the Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) reveals 67 per cent of people have experienced challenges getting a taxi home after a night out.

70 per cent of men and 60 per cent of women have experienced this issue, with the 35 – 54 age group encountering this problem the most at 71 per cent.

41 per cent also say they frequently have difficulty finding a taxi at the end of the night, with a further 35 per cent reporting difficulties about half of the time.

Taxis are also the most commonly used mode of transport after socialising at night at 64 per cent.

47 per cent of people get the bus home, with 2 per cent walking, and 16 per cent getting the Dart.

“We’ve been saying for some time that there aren’t enough taxis on the streets at closing time,” said Donall O’Keeffe, CEO of the LVA. That’s been the feedback from publicans from all over Dublin.

"They are hearing it from their customers, and they are concerned about the implications this is having on socialising in the capital.

“Well now we have actual numbers that back up that fear. 6 out of 10 people who socialise regularly say their concern about whether they’ll get a taxi home at the end of the night impacts how often they choose to socialise.

"If this is the extent of the problem amongst those who do go out regularly, then imagine how much it is also concerning those who only socialise occasionally?

“Clearly for a city the size and scope of Dublin we do not have enough taxis. We are backing calls from both the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) and the Taxis for Ireland Coalition, of which we are a part, to remove key regulatory barriers to the taxi market and for the public to be allowed to use ride hailing apps to help address this situation.

"We should be able to use them in Ireland in the same way as in London and across the EU. People deserve to know they can get home safely and quickly at the end of the night.

"With taxis being the most used form of transport at that time, we need to ensure there is a sufficient supply of taxis late at night and that our customers don’t encounter frequent difficulties getting a taxi home, as is currently the situation.”