Tipperary TD Michael Lowry has called for common sense to be used in the provision of Taxis at Dublin Airport. The TD highlighted the lack of an adequate taxi service at the arrivals area particularly after midnight. Deputy Lowry says the shortage is due to regulations introduced by the Dublin Airport Authority in 2016 which changed the criteria for obtaining airport taxi permits. The regulations mean that all taxis picking up passengers must be wheelchair accessible. The result is that the use of saloon style cars is no longer permitted meaning that such taxis can drop off passengers but do not have a permit to pick up any passengers at Arrivals. The Thurles based TD pointed out that this results in empty taxis leaving the airports while there are passengers queuing for taxis. Apart from the lack of service for weary arriving passengers the situation is also not cost effective for taxi owners, who lose half of their potential earnings as they drive away empty from the Airport.
