NI black taxi fares to increase

The Department of the Environment (DOE), which is the licensing authority for the taxi industry in Northern Ireland, has today announced that public hire taxi fares are to to increase between 13% and 31% from July 27 2006.

The DOE has said that the fares for black taxis in Northern Ireland were much lower than those in major cities in the UK and there was no evidence to suggest that capital or running costs were lower in the province than elsewhere in the UK.

There are currently 350 vehicles in the province, which are licensed under these by laws and therefore subject to fare regulation.

Taxis licensed under the by laws operate from ranks situated throughout Belfast City Centre.

Announcing the increase, Mr Brendan Magee, Chief Executive of Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland said: “These increases will mean that operators and drivers can recoup costs and ensure that vehicles can be properly maintained and periodically upgraded. They will also help to encourage more drivers into the Belfast Public Hire sector.

“However, they continue to represent good value for the customer in that Belfast fares will still compare favourably with many comparators in GB.”

Details of the new fares can be found at www.dvlni.gov.uk/commercial/index.htm

Fares were last increased on December 1 2004 when a revised tariff came into operation.

(EF/SP)