SOME 20 per cent of taxi drivers were not tax compliant according to the Revenue Commissioners.
Assistant secretary Norman Gillanders said a multiagency group of 22 officials including gardaí and Revenue Commissioners checked the papers of about 100 taxi drivers in Galway on one night and some 20 per cent were not tax compliant.
He told the Oireachtas transport committee that the 20 per cent was reflected in checks in other parts of the State. Those with compliance issues included eight people who had not filed tax returns even though they were on the register.
“Six of the cases we found on that night in Galway had ceased operation according to Revenue records but they were there on the rank doing taxi business. Three said they only started as drivers that week.”
Mr Gillanders said “we’ve done these checkpoints all around the country” and “when the checkpoints appear certainly the taxi traffic thins out quickly”.
Transport committee chairman Frank Fahey said this kind of check was something the committee had asked for previously. “I think the fact that so many people disappear when such an exercise takes place, does prove the point that has been made time and again, by legitimate full-time taxi operators . . . and it will certainly help to keep the cowboys out of the business.”
Earlier yesterday the Commissioner for Taxi Regulation announced a four-week public consultation process to review taxi fares. Taxi users, drivers and other interested parties can submit their views on the national maximum taxi fare as part of a biannual check on costs to the public.
Announcing the review Taxi Regulator Kathleen Doyle said they had introduced a national maximum fare where previously there were different fares in various regions. This is reviewed every two years and the 2010 review, the third review undertaken by the regulator, will last until August 16th.
The outcome, which will be announced in September, will decide whether the national maximum fare should be increased, decreased or remain the same. Ms Doyle said the review will look at running costs including maintenance and fuel as well as licence fees and insurance. When the last review took place in 2008, fares were increased based on the running and operations costs at the time. “We’re in a different economic situation now,” she said.
Submissions can be made on line at www.farereview.taxiregulator.ie where background information is given on how the fare works and six key questions to complete. Those wishing to make a submission can also download the form and post it to the Commission. Further information is available at 01 659 3800.
