Sir, - I am responding to the recent spate of criticism of Dublin taxi-drivers for our uncaring attitude towards wheelchair users in the city.
There are currently more than 800 wheelchair-accessible taxis available in Dublin, more than enough to cater for the needs of the disabled. But it is not surprising there are problems. Dublin Corporation did not deem it necessary to give any form of training whatsoever to the drivers in how to deal with the disabled, so for this reason alone many are wary of taking wheelchairs. Also, no obligation was placed on the drivers at the issue of their licence to have a two-way radio fitted in the vehicle, the end result being that a high percentage work only the streets or the taxi-ranks.
I rent my radio from a company which services both the Mater and Beaumont Hospital accounts and I have been astonished by the number of wheelchair customers who actively dislike the new "vans", and much prefer to use an ordinary taxi with the wheelchair stored in the boot.
As for the taxi-drivers' uncaring attitude towards the disabled, I simply refer your readers to the annual outing for the handicapped children sponsored each year by the Dublin taxi-drivers. This year we celebrate its 30th anniversary. Lack of planning and poor control by both the Corporation and central Government is the real culprit here. - Yours, etc.,
Ken Johnstone, Walkinstown, Dublin 12.