The State’s competition authority has called on the Government to open up the taxi market, as new research shows a large number of people have experienced difficulty in getting taxis, particularly in more rural areas. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) said its research highlighted a supply shortage in the taxi sector, as four in 10 people who tried to get a taxi in December reported difficulties doing so. The research found 53% of respondents surveyed tried to get a taxi in December 2025. When asked whether they would prefer a fixed fare or a metered fare, 60% of people said they would support a fixed fare option. Regulatory barriersChair of the CCPC Brian McHugh said regulatory barriers in the taxi market had “failed to facilitate innovations that have flourished in other countries, and consumers are suffering as result”.

Source: Irish Examiner February 19, 2026 00:09 UTC