Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020
672. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures that will be taken to facilitate the survival of those involved in the chauffeur business that have experienced a 98% drop in their business (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11971/20]
View answer700. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to help support an association (details supplied); if he or his officials are planning on holding meetings with the group; his further plans to help support the chauffeur sector more generally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12315/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 672 and 700 together.
I understand the very difficult business environment that small public service vehicle (SPSV) operators, including operators of limousine SPSV tour businesses, are now dealing with. In this regard, I am scheduled to attend the next meeting of the Advisory Committee on Small Public Service Vehicles later this week which will give me the opportunity to hear at first hand the impact of Covid-19 on the SPSV industry and how it is positioned to respond to the reopening of the economy in the context of the Government's Roadmap to Reopening Society and Business.
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) also took a number of actions to reduce the immediate financial burden on SPSV operators and to make it easier for them to return to the industry when circumstances change. These actions included licence extensions and the waiver of late licence renewal fees. The NTA has also engaged with the motor insurance industry to facilitate a suspension of SPSV insurance for those SPSV operators who decide to temporarily stop working and suspend their licences.
I am aware that the limousine business is particularly reliant on the tourism and hospitality sector. Since late February my Department has engaged with industry with a view to understanding the challenges facing the sector. In addition, with my colleague, Minister of State Griffin, I have established the COVID-19 Tourism Monitoring Group. This group comprises industry stakeholders, the tourism agencies and Departmental officials and has been specifically established to monitor the disruption to the tourism sector and to assist in formulating the sector’s response to the crisis. This group will continue its work as it monitors the recovery of the sector as part of the Government's Roadmap to Reopening Society and Business.
