Uber has expressed concern over the National Transport Authority’s (NTA) decision to increase taxi fares by 9 per cent from December 1st, while the extra €1 charge on pre-booked trips (i.e. all taxi booking apps) will bring the increase to over 10 per cent.
The company believes this move will negatively impact the night-time economy and also fails to address the ongoing taxi shortage.
The NTA’s decision to increase pre-booking fees and extend peak-time rates will significantly increase the cost of taxi journeys, particularly for those who rely on taxis to get home safely at night, Uber said.
This will disproportionately affect workers in the hospitality, entertainment, and nightlife sectors.
Uber also points to the NTA’s Taxi Driver Survey published in August 2024 which found that only 14 per cent of current drivers would be encouraged to start driving nights with increased prices, while 19 per cent of drivers stopped working nights as it was not financially worth it.
In September, the NTA announced that fares are to increase by 9 per cent from December 1st. In addition to the 9 per cent fare increase, the fee for pre-booking a taxi will also increase from €2 to €3.
The "special rate," which currently applies to taxi fares during Christmas and New Year's, will be extended to weekend peak times, meaning that taxis taken at this time will cost users €2 per kilometre, on top of the pre-booking charge and the initial charge.
Head of Uber Ireland, Kieran Harte, said “Raising taxi fares will have significant negative consequences for night-time economy workers who depend on taxis for safe transportation.
"Being the only door-to-door public transport service, taxis are a vital part of Ireland’s transport network, especially at night.
"This decision will not only discourage people from enjoying the night-time economy but will also harm businesses that rely on late-night trade. Ireland is already more expensive compared to the UK, France, USA and Australia while this decision will penalise users further."
