DUBLIN City Council's decision to issue 200 new taxi licences has been described by the Irish Taxi Federation as "ignorant" and "a disaster for the trade".
Mr John Ussher, president of the federation, said there was "no business" for 200 new taxis. "When 200 taxis come on the street other drivers will probably see their incomes halved. We are all in a state of shock about this decision".
Dublin Corporation hopes the issuing of licences will persuade the other three Dublin local authorities, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, South Dublin and Fingal County, to cancel plans for a separate taximeter area.
The Cathaoirleach of Fingal County Council, Ms Anne Devitt, said the three would meet in the next 10 days to decide.
A motion to issue the new licences was passed by a large majority on the city council on Monday night. The licences, to be allocated on a points system, will cost £15,000, and all cars will have to be wheelchair-accessible.
Councillors are also considering a moratorium on new hackney licences. The Minister for the Environment, Mr Howlin, is expected to issue new guidelines for the operation of hackneys soon.
The executive of the Irish Taxi Federation meets today and Mr Ussher said he expects "a lot of protests over this".
Mr Ussher said the cost of making taxis wheelchair-accessible was "extremely high", between £20,000 and £30,000. "We were told we would be compensated for making taxis wheelchair-accessible, but the Corporation is proposing no compensation for us at all."
He was also critical of the cost of new plates, saying many drivers had paid up to £70,000 for a plate.
The Cathaoirleach of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown council, Ms Olivia Mitchell, said her council "welcomed the flexibility" shown by Dublin Corporation.
Mr Christy Burke (SF) said delays "had been caused by Fianna Fail kicking the issue to touch". Mr Brendan Brady (FG) said it was "pathetic" that it had taken so long to "come to a decision".
Ms Devitt said: "All that matters is whether or not there will be more taxis on the street".