DUBLIN Airport has been urged to “sort out” their taxi system after claims passengers are being left waiting at the ranks late at night.

Social media users have dubbed the taxi system at the airport “the worst”, while Dublin Chamber has said that a 24-hour transport system linking passengers to the capital is urgently needed.

The airport’s transport system was criticised online by passenger Sinead McSweeney, who is Twitter Ireland’s managing director.

She tweeted last night: “Seriously @DublinAirport someone needs to sort out the (mis)management of the Terminal 2 taxi rank! Midnight, 20 fares in a queue and cars coming up in dribs and drabs.”

Others agreed with her sentiments, with one person saying: “Totally agree I was there at 8pm about 60 people waiting and they were only sending up 2 taxis at a time.

“Don’t understand it when we know there are 100’s of drivers there in the holding area. @DublinAirport please sort this out.”

After a record 31.5 million passengers passed through Dublin Airport last year, Dublin Chamber has said that an improvement of taxi facilities a the airport was “vital” for the city

Dublin Chamber Communication Officer Graeme McQueen called for the introduction of a metro and 24-hour bus service between the city and airport as soon as possible.

“It’s vital that we improve the options available for people looking to get to and from the capital.

“Dublin is one of the only major cities in Europe that still doesn’t have a rail link,” said McQueen.

“The construction of a metro link, which will provide an underground link between the airport and Dublin city centre, cannot come quick enough.

“This will allow people to step off a plane at Dublin Airport and be in Dublin city centre in around 20 minutes. MetroLink will be a game-changer for Dublin and we need to get on with building it without delay.

“We welcome the news the NTA are considering the introduction of a 24-hour bus service between Dublin Airport and the city centre.

“Such a move makes sense with Dublin becoming a 24-hour city and as the number of passengers travelling through Dublin Airport continues to rise.”

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Dublin Airport said a shortage of taxis overall in the city may be responsible for longer waiting times at the airport.

A spokesperson for the DAA (formerly the Dublin Airport Authority) said that while the airport tries to ensure a solid flow of drivers and the option of card payments, it is difficult to enforce as drivers are self employed.

“At all times Dublin Airport has two people designated to manage the taxi rank at both T1 and T2,” they said.

“They are constantly managing the steady flow of taxis for customers and will issue a call out to airport permit taxi operators when there is a shortfall.

“As not all taxis operating at Dublin Airport have credit card facilities there is a system in place to assist customers presenting with credit cards.

“Since 2016 it is mandatory for taxi drivers applying for a permit at Dublin Airport to have a credit card facility.

“Taxi drivers are self-employed so we cannot force them to operate in a particular location even though they might have a permit to work at the airport.

“… a comprehensive stakeholder review of the taxi service at Dublin Airport will be taking place soon.”

General Secretary of the Taxi Dispatch Operators Representative Association (TDORA), Myles O’Reilly, confirmed in October 2018 that the number of taxis in the country had fallen by 25pc since 2012.

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