Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 May 2020
828. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if taxi drivers can avail of an insurance break or holiday or a rebate for the Covid-19 period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7966/20]
View answer852. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to not require taxi drivers who cancel their PSV car insurance during the Covid-19 crisis to have to put their cars through suitability and NCT tests or have to send back their plates to the NTA while their insurance is suspended in order that they can quickly return to work when the industry recovers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8277/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 828 and 852 together.
I understand the very difficult business environment that small public service vehicle (SPSV) operators are now dealing with. Indeed, across Government we are acutely aware that the COVID-19 situation presents huge challenges for very many business sectors.
That is why we have worked to introduce a wide programme of Government supports for impacted businesses. The range of supports available includes new schemes of wage subsidies, rates waivers, re-start grants, lending facilities, equity injection, and business advisory supports for example. I also note that self-employed owner-operators of SPSVs may avail of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment of €350 a week.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has also taken action to reduce the immediate financial burden on SPSV operators and to make it easier for them to return to the industry when circumstances change. It has engaged with the insurance industry to facilitate a suspension of SPSV insurance for those operators who decide to temporarily stop working and suspend their licences. Operators who avail of this facility will be able to either reduce their monthly premium or receive a refund from their insurer, depending on their individual arrangements with their insurer.
To avail of this insurance reduction, SPSV operators must temporarily suspend their SPSV licences. The suspension of a licence requires the removal and return of a vehicle’s tamper-proof discs to the NTA in accordance with section 17 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013.
The NTA is keen to facilitate the swift return to work of any SPSV operator who wishes to reactivate their licence following a temporary suspension. I am informed that the NTA has a team available nationwide to reapply tamper-proof discs free of charge, that the process takes only minutes, and that a suitability inspection will not be required to apply duplicate tamper-proof discs to an SPSV.
