Two Cavan taxi drivers have called out all the local politiicans for failing to listen to their petition for a taxi rank in Cavan town. "Mick" and "Pat" joined a discussion on the Joe Finnegan Show about why it is so difficult to hire a taxi in many areas across the Northern Sound / Shannonside region.
Over-regulation of the sector, violence and abuse against drivers, drug-taking by passengers and lack of protection for drivers were all attributed to why drivers do not want to take up, or continue in the profession. However, both Cavan men were adamant the reason why there appears to be a lack of taxis in Cavan town is because there is no designated rank. Mick described as "balderdash" reports there are not enough taxi drivers on Saturday nights or over Christmas. He said Cavan remains the only county town in the region without a rank.
Mick said with three firms operating in Cavan, if the town had a designated 5-car rank there are "ample" taxis for the population. Pat said he agreed with Mick "100 per cent" He explained there is a 3-car taxi rank at Cavan bus station which they "can only use part-time during school days". Another part-time rank at the old Tescos store was closed 6 months ago. Mick said he and his colleagues have been pursuing the issue of a taxi rank in Cavan town for five years. "I, and other taxi drivers have petitioned Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Sinn Féin, Independents
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