FREENOW reported a record number of driver hours during the festive season, highlighting a strong growth in Ireland’s taxi supply, with nearly 1,300 additional taxi drivers joining the industry since 2023.
As of December 31, 2024, there were 27,643 active SPSV driver licenses in Ireland, marking an increase of 1,283 since the previous year, and a rise of 72pc in new licenses granted in 2023.
During December 2024, FREENOW recorded an 11pc increase in the number of drivers on the road and a 10pc increase in accepted trips, with average wait times of just 17.5 seconds for ride acceptance and 3.5 minutes for driver arrival.
The firm expressed optimism about the future growth of the taxi industry, emphasizing the importance of government-supported initiatives like the Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Taxi Grant Scheme and electric SPSV Grant Scheme to enhance taxi accessibility and sustainability.
Danny O’Gorman, General Manager at FREENOW Ireland, shared: “It’s great to see that our driver partners were able to meet passengers’ needs during the festive season when demand is high. Our own data, as well as the NTA figures, demonstrate that taxi supply is continuing to grow steadily in Ireland.
“We were delighted to see any of the initiatives to support taxi drivers that we have been calling for reflected in the recent Programme for Government, and we are confident that the taxi industry will continue to grow steadily in the coming years. The commitments to extend the Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Taxi Grant Scheme and the electric SPSV Grant Scheme will be crucial in growing the national taxi fleet while making it greener and more accessible.
“Taxis are an essential part of Ireland’s public transport infrastructure, and we are looking forward to another busy year of working with the NTA and the Government to improve taxi provision while supporting our partner taxi drivers.”
