Mr. Gerard Macken:

Taxi ranks in Cork are facilitated by the Garda and the local authority much of the time. It is a good stepping stone for the taxi industry to acknowledge the good work by some communities in that regard. Throughout the rest of the country, nothing is done in that regard. Taxi drivers in Cork and elsewhere are affected by no tourists coming here for trips on cruise liners. That business has been decimated.

We were told that there was a contract for NCTs and suitability tests. With the two people, that could be facilitated.

Regarding subsidies and grants and facilitating older drivers to get out of the business, if a taxi driver is paying over €11,000 a year, it is very hard to get out after buying a new car or in the middle of it. The Deputy’s suggestion of a 15-year age limit for vehicles is good. We have suggested it all along. That would be at no cost whatsoever. There is nothing for us in the stimulus package. The NTA or the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport should investigate it and make proposals for what can be given to taxi drivers. We need support. That is paramount at the moment.