Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

As we face into Christmas, the chronic shortage of taxis will become even more of an issue and will deter people from going into central Dublin and other city centres. The National Transport Authority, NTA, has acknowledged there are now 3,000 taxi licences that are inactive. Taxi groups have been saying for some time - I reiterate their call - that drivers should be allowed to transfer licences to a nominated family member or somebody else. Many older taxi drivers have not wanted to return but currently they cannot transfer their licences unless they die. They could transfer their licences to nominated family members, friends or others and we could activate thousands of taxi licences. The taxi groups are also saying there are 50-minute waiting times to get in contact with the NTA to get suitability tests, etc. They are asking whether family members may be nominated to contact the NTA on their behalf on licence matters.

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