ABOUT 'TAXI DRIVER'

The Irish Taxi Industry went through a period of deregulation in the early 2000's when the price of a licence or ‘plate’ had gone from roughly IR£ 70,000 to just IR£ 5,000 almost over night. This meant that what initially viewed as a long-term investment by Taxi drivers had been wiped out with the stroke of a pen.

Now, after a long period of what can only be termed ‘re-regulation’, the industry finds itself in a state of disarray. After the other sectors of the Irish economy collapsed many of those employed in these sectors jumped straight into the taxi industry. Additionally, the increase in ‘part-time’ drivers, already with a full time job, drive a Taxi at the weekend making it more difficult for full time drivers, who rely on taxi-driving as their sole source of income, to earn a reasonable wage - all of this happening without any visible intervention by the Irish Taxi Regulator to control the situation. There has also been a dramatic fall off in business in line with the general trend of the Irish economy which compounds the problem - more drivers chasing fewer customers resulting in income being almost halved.

Having driven a Taxi for just over five years and seen some of the ups and the majority of the downs, this body of work is my way of expressing how angry I, and I believe, the majority of drivers feel with the current situation in the industry.

All Images Copyright © Peter O'Rourke 2012.

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