Taxi drivers have warned of taxi shortages in Dublin this weekend due to a number of big gigs, sporting and cultural events.
The Taxis for Ireland coalition has said that 600,000 people will descend on the capital to attend events such as Taylor Swift at the Aviva Stadium and Longitude music festival at Marlay Park as well as Dublin Pride and the GAA Senior Football Championship quarter-finals at Croke Park.
The group has predicted that long waits for those needing a lift home or into the city.
“With thousands of people arriving in Ireland for the general tourist season and huge events like Taylor Swift at the Aviva, we are set to see strong demand for taxi services,” said Eoghan O’Mara Walsh, chief executive of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation.
The group is now seeking action from the National Transport Authority (NTA) and the government to raise the number of taxis available.
The coalition thinks there needs to be a one-third increase in the number of vehicles available by 2030 to alleviate the problems around availability.
“The last thing we want people in Dublin to feel is stranded, waiting late at night for taxis in areas they may be unfamiliar with,” said Donall O’Keefe, CEO of the Licensed Vintners Association (LVA).
“Taxis provide that extra layer of safety, particularly for visitors attending the city.”
(Pic: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie)
