Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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288. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a Covid-19 response for taxis will be provided within the NTA. [20957/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 248 and 288 together.

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.

In recognition of the challenges facing businesses, the Government 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.

Over the past few months, the National Transport Authority (NTA), which is the body under the aegis of my Department with statutory responsibility for regulating the SPSV sector, has undertaken a number of measures to assist operators in the industry including waivers, facilitating temporary licence suspensions, interaction with the Insurance industry, and providing guidance to operators on cleaning and other ways to reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19.

At the present time, while the financial supports mentioned continue to be available, the focus now is on assisting those who have stopped working to get back to work as the economy reopens and passenger demand for SPSVs returns. My Department is in regular contact with the NTA to monitor the impact that 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. There is no reason to believe that this work would benefit from the creation of new structures within the NTA and therefore there are no plans at present to ask for the creation of such structures.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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249. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the MetroLink project; if Covid-19 has caused significant delays to the project; if the project is a priority for him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20294/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.  In terms of status, I can assure the Deputy that the Programme for Government - Our Shared Future prioritises plans for the delivery of MetroLink and I look forward to seeing the project progress during the lifetime of the Government.

In terms of any COVID-19 related impact on the project's progress this year, the Deputy is aware that National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the MetroLink project. Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a more detailed reply.  Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.