It’s not all good news, however. The cost of taxis is set to rise as well.
We’ve all been there, wanting to get a taxi home but without the cash to do it. While there has always been a way around it, usually involving stopping by an ATM on the way, this system has been awkward at best.
From today, new legislation comes into effect requiring all taxis to provide a cashless method of payment. As of the 1st of September, taxis must accept credit and debit card payments for journeys, as well as cash.
The National Transport Authority states that 92% of taxi drivers already have these card terminals installed.
However, according to The Independent, the price of taxi journeys is set to rise by 12% from the same date, writing that “the price increase will be weighted across time bands throughout the day and will also take into account the distance of the fare.”
This increase is being described as a way to incentivise drivers to take trips late at night when taxis are at their most scarce, as well as to subsidise the increase in operating costs experienced by taxi drivers since 2018, particularly where fuel is concerned.
The Independent states, “the increase ranges from about 60-80c to €4” and will depend on a number of factors.
READ ON: Brown Thomas offer 20% off to impacted customers following pricing error