Some 1,893 new driver licences were issued last year, bringing the total number of drivers to 27,891.

It comes as drivers have been meeting the Government this week to discuss their demands and objections to the Uber model.

Taxi Drivers Ireland says nothing has changed since they first raised objections to fixed fares by Uber, and so the industry is going up a gear.

One victim tells court she would “have been safer walking home alone in the dark”