26.5% DECLINE IN TAXI NUMBERS IN CO MONAGHAN

Taxi numbers in Co Monaghan have declined by 26.5%, according to new figures from the National Transport Authority. The figures came in response to a recent Parliamentary Question by Independent TD Carol Nolan. They showed that 23 of Ireland’s 26 counties now had less taxis than before the Covid-19 pandemic. The Taxis for Ireland Coalition lobby group said the dramatic drop in available taxis raised concerns for the country’s vital hospitality industry and everyday passengers, particularly as tourist numbers were expected to surge in the coming months.

“The statistics highlight stark regional disparities in access to essential transport,” the coalition said in a media statement. “Both urban and rural areas in the Border region have been heavily impacted by taxi shortages in recent years, with licences dropping by almost 19% in the same…