Some Westport taxis 'won't accept' out-of-town fares at night

Councillors in Westport have expressed concern over the service offered by some taxi and hackney providers who operate within the town.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Brendan Mulroy said the majority of providers offer an excellent service but some no longer collect passengers who are going to outlying areas and instead, focus solely on those living in Westport town. Cllr Mulroy said he believes the taxi/hackney operators had "a moral obligation" to protect people and they were failing to adhere to this obligation.

“You can get a taxi into town but you can’t get one out and it is putting people off coming to Westport at all. It has happened numerous times and it is not acceptable that a young girl could be left on her own late at night in town,” he said.

Independent Cllr Christy Hyland said the inadequate taxi/hackney service is a real concern for parents when their children go out at night.

“It adds a fear factor for parents when their youngsters can’t get home from town and this is a stress they could do without,” he said.

Independent Cllr John O’Malley said the Government is not helping the taxi and hackney industry because of the regulations in place.

“If they don’t make it easier, we soon won’t have taxis anymore. It is a real problem, these brutal and totally wrong rules and regulations.”