Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his statement. It is disappointing that he cannot support this motion as it is. I think that shows a misunderstanding of the situation and I will outline why. I am speaking in respect of the 227 registered taxi drivers in Mayo in particular. They provide an essential service, especially for rural Ireland. These operators still have to worry about their car loans, tax and NCT costs. I spoke to taxi drivers from all over the country yesterday. Having heard their stories, I commend my colleague, Deputy O'Rourke, on moving this motion to highlight the situation.

I will concentrate particularly on older taxi drivers because we know that almost one in five taxi drivers are aged 66 or older. They are not eligible for the PUP. On one hand, therefore, they are being told to cocoon, while on the other they are being forced back to work because they do not have any money and they are being pushed into poverty. One taxi driver told me yesterday that the most vulnerable people are out working to try to keep their heads above water, and that is exactly what they are doing.

We speak about the Government and the muddled nature of its messaging. Taxi drivers are receiving a very clear message, however, especially those taxi drivers and others aged over 66 years. The message they are receiving is that they do not matter. They tell me repeatedly that they are being discriminated against. Regarding the tax write-off, they are told that they should cocoon and not use their cars. At the same time, however, they cannot avail of the tax write-off for the three months. They feel a terrible sense of injustice, therefore, and that they do not matter.

I have heard reports of taxi drivers, and others, aged over 66 years turning to moneylenders just to keep going, and some of them are doing that to send their grandchildren to college. Those are the facts of the matter. These are people who were already in their 50s when they had to bear the costs of austerity, the bank bailout and reckless lending, and everything else, when this country was destroyed. They will not get a loan now. It is fine to state that there is a suite of measures, but I am fed up hearing about this suite of measures. Taxi drivers in that age range will not get a loan now when they go to a bank. They also know that the banks will be calling in existing loans in October. Why do we not support them with the PUP? We also have a school transport crisis. Why do we not explore, even as a short-term measure, the possibility of allowing taxi and hackney drivers fill that gap?

Yesterday, the feeling among the drivers of being discriminated against was palpable. We have to listen to the taxi drivers. They are human beings and they are struggling to survive. The suite of measures just does not do it for them. They need a payment. They need to be supported. We need taxi drivers as an essential service. We need them now and we will need them in future. We need to support them. I plead with the Government to listen to the taxi drivers throughout the country who provide this essential service.

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