The National Taxi Drivers' Union has submitted proposals to Dublin Corporation for a fare increase of over 11 per cent for most journeys.
The proposals would include an increase in the minimum fare by 30p and an increase in the cost per mile.
The fare for short journeys of three miles should be increased by 10.3 per cent; journeys of 4.6 miles - the average distance travelled - should be increased by 11.1 per cent, and journeys over 13 miles should be increased by 14.7 per cent, the union said. At the moment the charge is £1.90 for the first three minutes and 20 seconds of a journey, or five-ninths of a mile, with 10p for every subsequent 40 seconds. The union has said waiting-time charges, should be increased from £9 to £15 per hour.
Mr Vinny Kearns, vice-president of the National Taxi Drivers Union, said rising inflation and a difficulty in attracting new members was the reason for the proposed fares increase. "There is a huge turnover in the number of drivers . . . most are going to jobs working a 40-hour week on trucks, buses or coaches. Many are making more driving a coach," he said. "If a driver walked in here now I could have him driving by 5 o'clock the demand is so great." Mr Kearns said given there had not been an increase since 1998, their demands were reasonable. "We could have shot high and gone for 30 per cent and got 15 per cent, but we are now dealing with the reality, facts and figures."
The fare increase proposals were recommended in a report produced by an independent consultant, Mr Jerome Casey. The report took account of the findings of a report by Dublin Corporation.
Mr Kearns noted the increase would ensure the public had a continued service in all areas. He said journeys to areas far from Dublin city centre were now calculated on the taximeter. "Drivers have refused to go to such areas. It's not worth their while." The fare increase would encourage drivers to spread out geographically and work in all areas, he said.
Mr Michael Hayes, divisional secretary in the taxi-drivers' branch in SIPTU, said they had submitted proposals to Dublin Corporation two weeks ago to incorporate a new charging system based both on distances and length of time of taxi journeys. He said this system overcame fare problems such as drivers sitting in traffic for hours.