There are 12.4% less taxi drivers in County Carlow than there was in 2019

The National Transport Authority has provided figures of pre-Covid taxi driver numbers up to 2024.

With County Carlow having lost 12.44% of taxi drivers over the period of 2019 till 2024.

But that's not nearly the biggest drop nationally. With Monaghan's numbers dropping 28.57% and Wexford dropping 24.41% in the same time period.

Although Carlow over the 5 year period has lost numbers, there was a slight increase of 1.1% from 2023 to 2024.

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“We are still facing a taxi shortage crisis,” said Adrian Cummins, CEO of the Restaurants Association of Ireland and founding member of the Taxis for Ireland Coalition. “It’s being hidden behind a modest urban recovery, but the reality in regional areas and at urban peak times is that people are stranded.

In rural Ireland, hospitality businesses are being devastated. Without taxis, people stay home. The WAV rule is locking out the very drivers we need. We need a modern, flexible, and inclusive taxi system. Right now, the system works for no one - not the drivers, not the passengers, and not our economy.”