Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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657. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if financial assistance will be put in place for self-employed taxi drivers in view of the impact of Covid-19. [12699/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I recognise that from the onset of the COVID-19 Emergency and the introduction of restrictions as part of the necessary public health response, passenger demand for taxis and other small public service vehicle (SPSV) services fell considerably and many operators stopped working.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) - the agency under my aegis which regulates the taxi industry - took action to reduce the immediate financial burden on SPSV operators and to make it easier for them to return to the industry when circumstances change. These actions included licence extensions and the waiver of late licence renewal fees. The NTA has also engaged with the motor insurance industry to facilitate a suspension of SPSV insurance for those SPSV operators who decided to temporarily stop working and suspend their licences. Operators who suspended their licences will be able to either reduce their monthly premium or receive a refund from their insurer, depending on their individual arrangements with their insurer. 

In recognition of the challenges facing businesses, the Government also put in place a range of measures to assist businesses during the current COVID-19 pandemic, including the COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme, the COVID-19 Restart Grant, and a waiver of commercial rates. Self-employed owner operators of SPSVs may also avail of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment of €350 a week that was introduced.

At the present time, given the range of financial supports available, I do not see the need for additional supports for the SPSV industry. However, noting that the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is scheduled to end on 10 August 2020, this question will be kept under continual review by Government. In addition, my Department is in regular contact with the NTA to monitor the impact the reopening of the economy in line with the Government's Roadmap to Reopening Society and Business is having on demand for SPSV services and to ensure that SPSV operators who have temporarily stopped working are well placed to return to work.