Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 163: To ask the Minister for Transport the amount from the taxi hardship fund which has been distributed; the maximum amount paid out; the number of persons who have applied; and the approximate timescale for applicants to be heard and receive their payments. [4652/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The taxi hardship payments scheme is based on the recommendations and parameters set out in the taxi hardship panel report, as approved by the Government. The report recommended establishment of a scheme to provide payments to individual taxi licence holders who fall into one of six categories that the panel assessed as having suffered extreme personal financial hardship arising from taxi liberalisation. The payments range from €3,000 to €15,000 depending on the category of hardship involved.

The taxi hardship payments scheme is administered by Area Development Management Limited on behalf of my Department. A total of 1,938 applications have been received by Area Development Management Limited under the scheme. Hardship payments totalling €16,349,000 have been approved in respect of 1,412 qualifying persons under the scheme up to 7 February 2005. The maximum payment in any individual case is €15,000 in accordance with the recommendations of the taxi hardship panel report. A total of 327 applicants did not qualify for a hardship payment and a further 101 application files have been closed where the applicant did not submit the requisite requested information or documentation to facilitate the consideration of his or her application.

Remaining applications with Area Development Management Limited will be dealt with in the coming weeks. All cases, with the possible exception of any appeals that may arise, will be considered by end March 2005. Sufficient funds have been made available to Area Development Management Limited to enable it to meet the cost of all qualifying applicants under the scheme.