Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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165. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if holders of a public service vehicle licence or plate licence are being instructed by her Department that they have to surrender their licences in order to qualify for a jobseeker’s payment; her views on whether this is counterproductive in view of the fact that it would take some time and cost to replace these licences which may hamper a person's ability to find and take up employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11207/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Self-employed taxi-drivers may apply for the means-tested jobseeker's allowance if they are on low income as a result of a reduction in demand for their services.

If a self-employed taxi-driver is still trading or intends to continue trading, he or she does not have to surrender his or her public service vehicle licence or plate licence in order to claim jobseeker's allowance. However, means from this source of self-employment will be assessed to determine the level of jobseeker's allowance payable to the person.

If a taxi-driver has ceased operating completely, the Department requires confirmation from the Taxi Regulator outlining that the customer has surrendered his or her public service licence. This confirmation is required so that the Department can be satisfied that the customer is no longer receiving an income from self-employment in the taxi business.