CITY OFFICIALS TO MEET TAXI DRIVERS OF CRISIS

Date Published: 10-Feb-2009

Senior Officials from Galway City Council, An Garda Síochána and taxi representatives are to meet next week [wed 18/2] to address the chaos regarding taxis in the city.At a meeting of the City Council last night, councillors were presented with a blueprint from taxi drivers about possible solutions to the overcrowding problem.Councillor Daniel Callanan told the meeting that there is "going to be major upheaval" some night in the city as frustration grows over the taxi crisis.Councillor Tom Costello said 1.5 million euro has gone to the Taxi Regulator from Galway taxis.City Manager Joe McGrath said he intends to increase taxi spaces in the city, but that he has to consider other road users aswell.Several motions regarding the taxi situation, encouraging a speedy solution, were passed by councillors.The meeting acknowledged however that the City Council has no control over how many taxis come to the city, as licences are issued by the Regulator.A motion by Councillor Tom Costello calling for the city manager to resign from the Taxi Regulators Advisory Council was defeated.Manager, Joe McGrath says the aim of next week's meeting is to find some solutions to the taxi chaos in the city