NORTHERN IRELAND NEWS
operators, but what the Minister has done to date offers little more than a sticking plaster over the issues and no viable long term solutions. Hospitality and tourism are two sectors in particular who have flagged up the need for action because of the impacts on their business due to our shortages.
William McCausland
Hospitality, healthcare, education, tourism, and business have all expressed their concerns about the impact on their sectors and social media is awash with complaints from their customers about not using their services because of difficulties getting to and from their venues.
The LTOA has warned the DFI on a number of occasions that these would become issues and that without a strong taxi sector there would likely be an increase in drink driving, more issues with anti-social behaviour on city streets after bars close, and a rise in illegal taxiing where the driver is uninsured, unvetted and the vehicle not approved. The sector is already seeing these predictions turn to reality and the expectation as the Christmas season approaches is that they will worsen considerably.
William McCausland and Cousin Christopher McCausland own the two biggest taxi companies in Northern Ireland, fonaCAB and Value Cabs. Normally fierce rivals, the two companies have set competitive issues to the side to work together as part of the LTOA to push for reform in the industry.
William has spoken several times in the media regarding the difficulties that applicants have in joining the industry: “We have called upon the Minister and her Department to pause the current theory testing until a full review of the process can be carried out. The current testing required is excessive for the needs of the role and has been a failure since its introduction as it has discouraged drivers from even considering becoming a driver.
“Unless the Minister makes substantial changes to driver entry requirements and soon, we face a further decline in driver numbers with no other way of getting them into the industry.”
Christopher was equally vocal about the inaction by the Minister: “We appreciate any support for the drivers and
DECEMBER 2021
“In addition to the lack of drivers, the huge surge fares now being charged by some Class C operators are dissuading their customers from coming out – why would you pay more for a taxi than a meal for two? Regardless of the opinion of operators and businesses, the Minister surely has an obligation to her constituents to prevent excessive charges and revise legislation so that every class is subject to the same rules”
The issues in the sector are not confined to Belfast. Cathy Mallie who runs Clanrye Taxis in Newry, a town on the northern side of the border with Ireland, spoke of her recent experiences in her area: “This is as bad as we have seen things in all of our time in the industry. Our driver shortage is now so great that the owners and manage- ment at the depot have had to also drive on top of their day jobs at the depot to make sure we don’t let our customers down.
“When an applicant hears that some drivers have taken more than a year to get through the testing process, they switch off and look elsewhere. What other job asks you to wait a year before you can start work? Something has to change.
“Our concern in the run up to Christmas is for our customers. We do everything we can to get them out and home safely, but those that can’t get a taxi and risk driving or have to walk home on a dark rural road, will suffer and telling the Minister we told you so is no solution if an accident occurs. The responsibility and the power to address these problems sits firmly with the Minister and once again we call upon her to meet with the sector and bring about meaningful change, and not just tick a box for the media.”
Operators in NI are continuing to try to bring drivers back into the industry, but the reality is that for every five drivers one depot gets, that’s five drivers another depot has lost – it is a zero sum game. The industry needs new blood and fast, but without serious interven- tion to revise the current regulations by the DFI this will not happen. If the Minister is serious about supporting the taxi sector, now is the time to step up and implement meaningful change and not just tinker around the edges.
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