Northern Ireland Assembly hears taxi trade concerns over pothole damage and lost income
- Perry Richardson
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
Taxi drivers in Derry are facing mounting vehicle repair bills and loss of earnings as a result of pothole damage, the Northern Ireland Assembly has heard during a Private Members’ Business debate on road maintenance.
Speaking at Stormont, Sinéad McLaughlin MLA told Members that drivers in the city had repeatedly raised concerns about the impact of poor road conditions on their livelihoods. She said potholes were damaging tyres and suspension systems and affecting drivers’ ability to generate income.
Mark Durkan MLA responded by acknowledging the consequences for those who rely on the roads to make a living. He told the chamber that the more time someone spends driving, the greater their exposure to vehicle damage and safety risks.
The comments came during a wider debate on the adequacy of funding for road maintenance and whether the Department for Infrastructure would be properly resourced under a promised new multi-year Budget. Durkan questioned whether the department would be empowered to implement its road maintenance strategy fully or continue to depend on in-year monitoring rounds to supplement its funding allocation.
MLAs debate road maintenance funding as Derry drivers warn of financial strain caused by deteriorating infrastructure
He also called for improved inspection regimes and quality assurance to ensure repairs last, alongside better coordination of works to protect newly resurfaced roads. Transparent cost tracking and sustained multi-year investment were cited as necessary measures to improve accountability and deliver longer-term improvements.
For the taxi and private hire sector, the discussion reflects ongoing pressures linked to the standard of road infrastructure. Professional drivers, who cover significantly higher annual mileages than most private motorists, are particularly exposed to suspension damage, wheel distortion and tyre wear linked to uneven road surfaces. Repair downtime can also remove vehicles from service, directly affecting driver income and fleet utilisation rates.
The debate in Belfast follows similar concerns raised across other parts of the UK, where industry groups have pointed to rising maintenance costs and breakdown incidents linked to road quality. For owner-drivers and small operators, unexpected repair bills can erode already tight margins, particularly amid broader cost pressures including fuel, insurance and vehicle financing.
Durkan told the Assembly that preventative maintenance was more cost-effective than reactive repairs, arguing that sustained investment would save both lives and public money. He said there was a need to move away from what he described as patchwork solutions towards structured, long-term planning.
As the Executive prepares to outline its financial framework, industry stakeholders will be hoping road maintenance funding shifts towards multi-year certainty, rather than remaining subject to shorter-term adjustments through monitoring rounds.
