COMPLAINTS AGAINST taxi drivers have fallen by more than 20 per cent this year, with grievances relating to conduct and behaviour having halved, according to figures from the Commission for Taxi Regulation.
The commission had received 551 complaints from the public against drivers up to November 31st this year compared to 701 for the same period last year.
The commission groups complaints fall into four categories: condition and cleanliness, conduct and behaviour, overcharging, and matters related to hiring. The largest number of complaints related to drivers overcharging or attempting to overcharge customers. This category showed only a slight reduction from 242 to the end of November last year to 239 for the same period this year.
Matters related to hiring, which largely relates to a refusal to take a fare, fell from 103 last year to 89, this year. However, the biggest reduction was in complaints against the conduct and behaviour of drivers, down from 317 to 156.
The only category where complaints rose relates to the condition and cleanliness of vehicles, which stood at 39 on November 31st last year and was up to 67 by the same date this year.
Taxi regulator Kathleen Doyle said the overall reduction in complaints was particularly encouraging given the steady increase in the numbers of taxi licences in the industry.
The number of taxi licences stood at 25,695 at the end of last year. By the end of November this year that figure had risen to 27,311.
Ms Doyle is deeply unpopular with taxi industry representatives who blame her for the numbers of taxis on the roads, which they say has decreased their earnings.
"I have never seen the taxi industry in such an appalling state. It is now on its knees," National Taxi Drivers Union president Tommy Gorman said.
Ms Doyle says she is fully aware that taxi numbers have increased since deregulation was introduced in 2000.
"There has been a considerable increase in small public service vehicles since the liberation of the market by the Government in 2000. The spiralling in numbers really happened overnight and it's continued to spiral since then."
She says she realises some drivers are finding it harder to make a living, but says the situation must also be considered from the consumer's point of view.
"The industry feels there are too many vehicles out there, but from our point of view what we see is that there is a very good supply of vehicles out there, and more competition benefits consumer."
The taxi representatives have, since the introduction of deregulation called for controls on the number of licences issued.
Ms Doyle has continued to stress that it is not within her power to cap licences, and that this would require a legislative change.
