More than 3,000 taxis are likely to be put off the road because of their age, and more will be banned from plying for hire if they are unclean under new standards proposed by the taxi regulator.
Regulator Ger Deering is proposing that nine years be the maximum age of a taxi, and that vehicles would have to undergo an annual test of suitability for use as a small public service vehicle (SPSV), which includes taxis, hackneys and limousines.
The vehicle standards consultation paper published yesterday by the Commission for Taxi Regulation also recommends major changes in relation to the provision of wheelchair-accessible services.
Of the 21,347 licensed SPSVs, 3,093 are more than nine years old and 239 are more than 15 years old. The average age of vehicles is seven years.
While there is currently no age restriction on vehicles, Mr Deering said he believes one is needed to maintain the standard of the fleet. He said 85 per cent of vehicles were less than nine years old, and he was allowing a three-year lead-in time to allow drivers to update their vehicles.
Limousines and wheelchair-accessible vehicles would be exempt from these regulations.
He said there was a particular need to increase the number of wheelchair-accessible taxis and the standard of service available to wheelchair users.
However, he said he would not insist that all taxis were wheelchair-accessible as it would drive down the overall number of taxis.
"We would go from one section having a poor service to everybody having a poor service."
Mr Deering is proposing the introduction of a new category of wheelchair-accessible licence for hackneys that would allow them to provide a service exclusively for disabled customers.
He is also asking the Government to introduce a subsidy for drivers of wheelchair-accessible taxis that would be broadly equivalent to the rate of VRT.
Mr Deering said taxis in general would be required to maintain high standards of cleanliness. Standards should be "similar to a recently-valeted vehicle".
The taxi sign is also to be connected to the meter to stop taxis displaying their yellow light when passengers are on board.
Irish Taxi Drivers' Federation president John Ussher said there was no reason why a taxi which passes the National Car Test should be removed from the road.
However, he welcomed the move towards a subsidy for wheelchair-accessible taxis.
