‘Taxi shortage crisis’ Donegal taxis drop by 18%

Donegal has experienced an 18% drop in taxi-driver numbers since 2019, according to figures from the National Transport Authority.

In pre-COVID times in 2019, Donegal had 564 registered taxi drivers, however, that went down to 461 registered taxi drivers five years later in 2024.

Only seven more counties had experienced a bigger percentage drop in registered taxi drivers from 2019 to 2024 than Donegal. Monaghan had the largest percentage decrease of more than 28.5% of registered taxi drivers available in 2024 compared to 2019.

The border counties, Donegal, Monaghan, and Cavan, suffered greatly with a lack of taxi drivers since 2019, with a combined 19.6% decrease. In comparison, Connacht only had a 6.3% decrease, and Munster and Leinster saw increases in registered taxi availability.

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Limerick, Kerry, and Dublin were the only counties to see an increase in taxi drivers from 2019 to 2024, however, the size and population of these counties, especially Dublin, mean that there has been a national increase of registered taxi drivers available since pre-COVID times. 

Dublin, Cork, Galway, Kerry, Limerick, and Louth were the only counties to have more registered taxis available than Donegal.

The county with the fewest number of registered taxis was Leitrim, with only 71 registered taxis available. 

Adrian Cummins, the founding member of the Taxis for Ireland Coalition, and CEO of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, said that Ireland was facing a “taxi shortage crisis.”

He commented: “It’s being hidden behind a modest urban recovery, but the reality in regional areas and at urban peak times is that people are stranded.

“In rural Ireland, hospitality businesses are being devastated. Without taxis, people stay home.”