AQW 9969/17-22

Mr Andrew Muir
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 09/11/2020
Answered On Date: 20/11/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure (i) to detail how she arrived at the figure of £1,500 for each taxi driver from her support fund; and (ii) for her assessment on whether this is sufficient funding for taxi drivers to cover the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answer:

The Taxi Drivers’ Financial Assistance Scheme, which launched on 13th November, recognises that self-employed taxi drivers have significant overheads, including additional PPE costs, which were not covered by payments received through the available self-employed income support schemes (SEISS). It provides additional support to that which was/is available to self-employed drivers through the SEISS. The SEISS allowed individuals to claim a taxable grant worth 80% and 70% of their average monthly trading profits. This separate scheme recognises that drivers have not been able to earn as much income to cover their ongoing costs, such as taxi insurance, but which they have still had to pay out.

The one off payment of £1500 is based on the evidence and information provided by the sector relating to their average yearly overhead costs; these costs have been independently verified by the Department. The amount is in recognition of the financial pressures sustained by eligible taxi drivers due to Covid-19 and the additional costs incurred on PPE.

I recognise that, similar to other support schemes, this will not fully fund the overheads but it will make a significant contribution to the overheads faced by sector.