*The taxi rank in Harvey’s Quay. Photograph: Páraic McMahon.
MOVING THE location of the taxi rank in Ennis can free up parking spaces, a long-serving county councillor has argued.
Citing “the serious shortage of parking spaces in Ennis town centre,” Cllr Pat Daly (FF) called on the Ennis Municipal District to examine sourcing an alternative location for the taxi rank in the county town.
Ennis’ taxi rank moved from the Height in O’Connell Square to Harvey’s Quay (Parnell Street car park) following a proposal from Ennis Town Council in 2005 which was met with backlash by local taxi drivers.
Acting senior engineer in the Ennis MD, Paddy Tiernan said they were “not aware of any significant issues in relation to the current location of the taxi rank” but was happy to speak with taxi providers to discuss the current arrangements and understand and difficulties that they may have in terms of their requirements”.
He added, “Taxis provide an important service within Ennis and make a valuable contribution to the economy of the town. Therefore, we are willing to consider alternative locations if required and suggest that with councillor assistance, a meeting would be arranged between both the executive and the taxi providers in order to understand the current issues and examine any alterations if necessary”.
Speaking at a meeting of the Ennis MD, Cllr Daly stated, “it was a bad decision to move the taxi rank into the area of Parnell Street car park and take away parking spaces, it caused serious damage to Parnell Street at the time and now it is a serious damage to the town, it is forty spaces, it is time the Ennis Municipal District sought a new site for the taxi rank, it would make a huge difference to the town”.
Supporting the call, Cllr Antoinette Baker Bashua (FF) maintained space could be utilised better. “Years ago you walked out of the town and hopped into the taxi, years ago it was at the top of the Height, it is an awful lot of space used up which could be utilised better”. Finding an alternative is “a tough one,” she acknowledged, “I don’t see it as an easy fix”. She said, “In this society we’re used to ringing a taxi and it coming to us rather than walking to it”.
“I wasn’t aware of this,” commented Cllr Mary Howard (FG) on the push to move the location. “Town is quieter since COVID,” she observed. “There are five or six taxis waiting there most days, have the conversation with them to see if they think it should be moved, we’ve got used to where it is and I don’t see it going back to the square, once the refurbishment is done it will look amazing”. She added, “it needs to be in a place where they can get out of the town quickly”.
Reviewing the current set-up was welcomed by Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF). “There is nobody passing jusdgement with the taxi organisations, we embrace and support them”.
Mayor of the Ennis MD, Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) stated, “I don’t agree with the premise of the motion, I don’t accept there is a serious shortage of parking spaces in Ennis, I do agree that we should reconsider the location of the taxi rank”. She explained, “As a woman if you are out at night, it is nice to have something smack bang in the middle, the Carraig Donn is a great location worth considering”.
Responding to his party colleague, Cllr Daly commented, “the whole idea is to free up parking, that is the whole idea. The taxi rank was originally planned to move to Abbey Street near the Queens but it was moved to Parnell Street and the business people were upset”.
Adding his view, Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) said he supported the sentiment of the motion but cautioned, “I’m not sure how easy it will be find to an alternative”. He admitted, “I seldomly walk to the taxi rank”.
