News Release Page Title

29 June 2006

BELFAST TAXI FARES TO INCREASE IN LINE WITH GB

The Department of the Environment (DOE) has announced an increase in Belfast public hire taxi fares of between 13% and 31% from 27 July 2006.

The Department has accepted that the rates were low when compared to levels in major cities in GB and that there is no evidence to suggest that capital or running costs are lower in Northern Ireland than elsewhere in the U.K.

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 http://www.dvlni.gov.uk/commercial/index.htm

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. DOE is the licensing authority for the taxi industry in Northern Ireland and undertakes this function through Road Transport Licensing Division (RTLD) of DVLNI.

  2. The Department has the authority to make By Laws regulating the fares and other legislative requirements and this it does under the County Borough Of Belfast By-Laws relating to Motor Hackney Carriages made on 4 June 1951. These regulate the operation of public hire taxis, which are licensed by the Department to stand and ply for hire within a 5 mile radius of Belfast city centre.

  3. There are currently 350 vehicles licensed under the by laws and therefore subject to fare regulation. The total licensed taxi fleet in NI is in the region of 9,500. Fares therefore in 96% of these vehicles are a matter for the hirer and the services provider, not the Department.

  4. Taxis licensed under the by laws operate in the main from ranks throughout the city centre.

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

    Click here to print this press release.