Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Tánaiste will be aware of the back-to-work enterprise allowance scheme. While it is not administered by his Department, it is an important safety net for many people setting up in business, coming off the live register. He will also be aware of the enormous shortage of taxis in our city at peak times. However, the back-to-work enterprise allowance is not available to people who are on the live register and who want to enter the taxi industry. This is just one example of how we are not taking in a long-term and strategic view of the future of the taxi industry which the National Transport Authority needs to do. We need a better deal for taxi drivers and we also need more taxis on our streets. I ask the Tánaiste to raise this with the Minister for Social Protection to see if we can encourage more people into the industry. There is still work to be done about a better deal for taxi drivers.

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