Vol. 555 No. 5
325 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Transport the categories of drivers affected by taxi deregulation which are to receive compensation under the proposals of the Taxi Hardship Panel; and if he intends to publish the report of the panel in full. [19277/02]
I have very recently received a copy of the panel's report and will give it careful consideration, following which I will submit implementation proposals to Government. The panel has reported in general terms on the nature and extent of extreme personal financial hardship which may have been experienced by individual taxi licence holders arising from loss of income as a direct result of the liberalisation of entry to the taxi industry on 21 November 2000. The panel has also included in its report an estimate of the numbers of individual licence holders involved, the likely financial implications and the recommended criteria for assessment of extreme personal financial hardship under any subsequent proposed response by Government. As stated in An Agreed Programme for Government, the Government is committed to the implementation of the recommendations of the panel. I will arrange for the publication of the report following its presentation to Government.
