James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

185. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to address the large number of taxi drivers who are over 66 years of age and are not included in the measures to help taxi drivers during Covid-19 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40053/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am aware of the financial challenges facing small public service vehicle (SPSV) operators of all ages. My Department and the National Transport Authority (NTA) have taken action throughout the pandemic. and none of the measures are restricted in any way by the age of the driver or licence holder. Operators of all ages have benefited from the NTA's waiver of late renewal fees, extension of age limits and facilitation of insurance suspensions for those operators who decided to temporarily stop working.

The recent Budget contained a waiver of vehicle licence renewal fees for 2021, a measure which all licence-holders of all ages can benefit from. The Budget also contained a €15 million scrappage scheme for operators of older SPSVs and although this measure is only open to operators of older vehicles, there are no age criteria for the operators themselves.

I am aware that many SPSV operators have benefitted from the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), which I understand is not open to individuals over the age of 66. The PUP and its age criterion, and any other social protection payments to individuals over the age of 66 are matters for my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection.