AQW 13976/17-22
Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim
Tabled Date: 03/02/2021
Answered On Date: 05/02/2021
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether she plans to extend COVID-19 financial support to taxi drivers.
Answer:
I have carefully examined the evidence for ‘exceptional circumstances’ which are continuing to impact on taxi drivers as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. A second Taxi Driver Financial Assistance Scheme will therefore be opened to all self-employed taxi drivers in Northern Ireland who meet the eligibility criteria, including those drivers who did not apply for first scheme in November 2020 or whose applications were unsuccessful. The second scheme will run for a 12 month period from 22nd March 2020 until 21st March 2021. The scheme will be open to applicants who had either continuous taxi insurance throughout the entire 12 month period, or partial insurance during this time. This will provide support to a wider range of applicants, including some who were not eligible for the first scheme (which covered the period 22nd March 2020 to 30th September 2020). The second scheme will be based on the same evidence (in terms of overheads) as the first scheme, and the principle that costs still have to have been incurred by the driver, so continuing to ensure VFM. Payments from the second scheme will therefore be made on a pro rata basis to reflect the individual circumstances of, and actual costs incurred by, the wider pool of eligible drivers. The scheme is addition to the financial support available to self employed taxi drivers through the Self Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS). The second taxi driver scheme is expected to launch week commencing 8th February.
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