National Transport Authority Recruiting 1,600 New Taxi Drivers

Fancy becoming a taxi driver? Now’s your chance. The National Transport Authority (NTA) in Ireland is looking to recruit 1,600 taxi drivers as part of a major recruitment drive this year. The NTA says it wants to attract customer-centric women and men with a desire to work for themselves and provide positive taxi experiences to the travelling public. 800 new taxi drivers were recruited by the NTA in 2017, a figure it is looking to double in 2018 to add to the 26,000 people currently licensed to drive a taxi in Ireland. NTA CEO Anne Graham said: “There are about 26,000 drivers licenced to drive a Small Public Service Vehicle in Ireland. “That might sound like a lot, but they are not all available all of the time, which means there can be shortages at certain periods particularly at peak hours and weekend nights. “Last year we recruited about 800 new drivers into the sector, and with this campaign, we would like to double that in 2018.” An advertising campaign will be rolled out across broadcast, online and print media starting on Monday, 26 February; a clean driving licence is all that’s needed to apply. Here's more information; To obtain an SPSV Driver Licence  SPSV Driver Licenses are only granted to people who;

• Hold an Irish driving licence – Class B or higher, free from disqualification and free from endorsement (including penalty points) – or an equivalent licence from an EU or EEA Member State or another recognised state. If the latter, you will be required to include with your application a certified stamped letter from the relevant Embassy stating the licence is true and valid. Alternatively, you may be entitled to exchange your driving licence for a full Irish driving licence. Please contact An Garda Síochana for further information;
• Pass the SPSV Driver Entry Test which is designed to verify good knowledge of the SPSV Regulations, familiarity with good practice in the industry, and good knowledge of the chosen area of operation;
• Are considered by An Garda Síochána to be suitable persons to hold SPSV driver licences following background checks with local and national police bodies;
• Are tax cleared with the Irish Revenue Commissioners. Please ensure that the name held with Revenue is identical to the name on the licence application you submit. You can show that your tax affairs are up to date by producing a current print out of your tax clearance certificate. NTA will verify this information directly with Revenue at the appropriate time; and
• Are over 18 years old.

 To Apply you must;

What Happens Next; Your application will be processed by An Garda Síochána. The process includes an assessment of you as a suitable person to hold an SPSV driver licence (vetting). This may take up to twelve weeks to complete, occasionally longer depending on the checks to be completed. All queries in relation to your application should be directed to An Garda Síochána as the SPSV Driver Licensing authority. If your application is successful, An Garda Síochána will issue you with a paper SPSV driver licence and they will inform NTA. We then issue you with the secure driver identification cards that you are required to keep with you at all times while you are operating as an SPSV driver. If you are issued with an SPSV driver licence, you are entitled to drive any of the categories of SPSV (taxi, hackney or limousine). The vehicle you drive must be licensed as an SPSV. Source;  www.nationaltransport.ie And Joe.ie More Articles available here; http://www.thejournal.ie/taxi-driver-recruitment-campaign-3871171-Feb2018/ https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/taxi-driver-ireland-recruitment-apply-12085516 https://www.joe.ie/motors/recruitment-drive-taxi-drivers-617448 https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/campaign-begins-to-recruit-1-600-new-taxi-drivers-1.3405883