Taxi drivers ready for protests

A NORTHSIDE taxi driver who is spokesperson for a group representing over 2,000 full time cabbies is warning they may take to the streets to resist the removal of prime city centre ranks.

David McGuinness, from Santry, and a member of taxi group Tiománaí Tacsaí na h�ireann (TTnH), says drivers have no idea how many of the ranks that are being removed to facilitate Luas Cross City works will be replaced.

TTnH also claim they’re still in the dark about where new ranks may be placed after the works, despite talks with the Rail procurement Agency, Dublin City Council and the National Transport Authority (NTA) over the past year.

Over 50 taxi rank spaces will be moved to facilitate works over the next two years including those at St Stephen’s Green North, Dawson Street, Westmoreland Street and O’Connell Street.

However, TTnH say not one firm proposal has been put on the table about where future taxi ranks are going to be when the work is completed.

“Initially when the Luas Cross City was given the go-ahead by An Bord Pleanala, Transport Minister Leo Varadkar announced to the media that he was setting up a forum basically to deal with concerns of the business community that would be affected by the ongoing works,

? said McGuinness.

“TTnH, as a representative of the taxi industry, applied for a position on this forum but we were more or less told there was no need for the taxi industry to be involved.

?

The Department of Transport confirmed that the Minister had set a up a monitoring group for Luas Cross City, but its task was to oversee progress of the project from a high level perspective.

“Specific scheme details are dealt with in other fora by the Railway Procurement Agency, Dublin City Council or the NTA as appropriate,

? a spokesperson added.

TTnH says it will continue to try and engage with the relevant bodies but warns that protests may be necessary.

“If there’s no solution or even an offer of a solution, well then taxi drivers can’t sit by and let the Luas works continue and be completed because we won’t actually matter when the work is over.

“We haven’t been unreasonable about this. We have been in discussions for a year, we gave the Luas project team co-operation on the ground where work was being done but we’re still not getting any firm answers as to where the taxi ranks are going to be when the work is finished.

“We want to highlight this issue and if it involves protests, so be it.

?

The Department of Transport said the Railway Procurement Agency, Dublin City Council and the NTA had met with a grouping of taxi industry representatives known as the Taxi Forum.

A spokesperson for the Department said several discussions had taken place in relation to the temporary arrangements for taxi ranks during Luas Cross City works and permanent arrangements following its completion.

“While it’s understood that 56 full time rank spaces will be removed when Luas Cross City becomes operational, the NTA has advised that initial proposals have been put forward for 45 full time replacement spaces and up to 124 additional night-time rank spaces,

? the spokesperson added.

“These proposals are subject to final approval by Dublin City Councillors. In addition, it’s understood that Dublin City Council are examining options for further full time rank provision in the vicinity of O’Connell Street, which would be supplementary to the above proposals.

“It is intended that discussions between the taxi representative groups and the Railway Procurement Agency, Dublin City Council and the NTA would continue to address this issue.

?