The Irish Government has extended the normal ten-year rule for the use of taxis for an extra year.
This new legislation, which comes into force next week on the 1st of April, allows taxi drivers and operators with a car registered in 2015 to keep using and running the car - subject to the normal PSV checks, of course - for one more year, into 2026.
Public consultation
According to the Department of Transport: “Following public consultation, the NTA Board has approved the Taxi Regulation (Taxi Maximum Permissible Age) Regulations 2025. These regulations permit an extension to the final operation date of taxis currently in the fleet, first registered in 2015, and due to reach their final operation date between 1st January 2025 and 31st December 2025.”
Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien said: “The new regulations will provide 2015 vehicles with an additional year of operation, thus providing a 2026 final operating date for those vehicles. The introduction of these regulations by the Department of Transport and NTA is a further acknowledgement of the impact of Covid-19 on the taxi industry.”
Shortage of cars
While you might think that ten years old is quite enough for any taxi, the fact is that there's a shortage of cars in the taxi industry right now. In fact, the Taxis For Ireland organisation - a lobby group representing the taxi industry - points out that the number of taxi licences has fallen by almost half since 2009.
The ten-year rule was seen as putting extra pressure on operators to replace their cars, a pressure that may have pushed more to drop their licences and cease operations. It also comes at a time when, for the second time, the Government has been forced to suspend applications for the eSPSV Grant Scheme - which can see taxi operators given as much as €25,000 in grants for trading in an older diesel-powered car for a new, electric, wheelchair-accessible vehicle - because it's oversubscribed.
Surge in interest
Minister O'Brien said: “The sheer volume of applications received is a strong endorsement of the EV transition, particularly among high-mileage taxi, hackney and limousine drivers who are eager to embrace a cleaner, more efficient technology.The surge in interest highlights not only the attractiveness of the grant offering but also the significant shift in the market towards greater EV adoption. It's a clear indication that Ireland's taxi, hackney and limousine industry is ready for change. High-mileage drivers, at the forefront of daily operations, have shown strong support for transitioning to EVs.”