Up-to date tax clearance will be required from taxi drivers from August, the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, announced yesterday.
From August 2nd, everyone applying for or renewing a licence to own or operate a taxi, hackney or limousine must produce an up-to-date tax clearance certificate from the Revenue Commissioners.
The measure, which was recommended by the National Taxi Council, is among initiatives being introduced to make the industry more professional, accountable, reliable and safe.
Mr Brennan advised taxi-drivers to put their tax affairs in order without delay, to avoid a situation where the renewal of a taxi licence would be refused.
Taxi licences are renewed on an annual basis, and drivers' licences are renewed on a five-year basis.
The move has been welcomed by the National Taxi Drivers' Union, which said it has been calling for the introduction of such an initiative for over 10 years.
The vice-president of the National Taxi Drivers' Union, Mr Vinny Kearns, said the majority of taxi-drivers were fully tax compliant, but estimated there were up to 3,000 drivers who were working in a full-time job and working in the taxi "black market".
"They are using their taxi as a means of supplementing their income, and probably using it to buy a nice car or go on holidays.
"This is unfair to our members, and is putting the travelling public at risk. They are not fit to drive if they are doing a full-time day job elsewhere."
Meanwhile, new statistics reveal that the number of taxis has grown by 9,000 since the liberalising of the industry in 2000.
The substantial growth in the industry, which saw the number of taxis in the country jump from 3,934 in November 2000 to 12,845 in 2003, has resulted in a "more frequent and more reliable service", according to Mr Brennan.
For the industry itself, the "tremendous growth" has meant "more jobs and increased opportunities".
The most dramatic increases have been in cities, with the number of taxis in Dublin jumping from 2,722 to 9,320; from 216 to 710 in Cork; from 148 to 469 in Galway; from 206 to 513 in Limerick; and from 41 to 154 in Waterford.
Taxi services have also begun in towns that prior to November 2000 had no licenced taxis, including Letterkenny (0 to 106), Bray (0 to 49) and Cobh (0 to 36).
The statistics do not include hackneys and limousines.
"I want to shape and build a taxi industry in which the vast majority of those involved are employed full-time and can secure a proper income and standard of living.
"I want to bring about a 'cab culture' in Ireland that will place taxis and hackneys as an integral part of the public transport system," said the Minister.