Michael D. Higgins
Ceist:348 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the amount of money the implementation of the recommendations of the taxi hardship panel report will cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25415/02]
Written Answers. - Taxi Deregulation.
Michael D. Higgins
Ceist:349 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport if all of the hardship as determined by the taxi hardship panel will be cleared; if payments will only be a contribution, that is, if families will be left with a hardship afterwards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25416/02]
Michael D. Higgins
Ceist:350 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport when the families suffering a hardship will see their situation resolved by the taxi hardship panel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25418/02]
Michael D. Higgins
Ceist:351 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the cost to the Exchequer of the taxi hardship panel, including all auxiliary costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25419/02]
Michael D. Higgins
Ceist:352 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the need for expediency, especially as it is over two years since deregulation, in view of the fact that the FAIR group is to attend a hearing in Brussels of its petition on 10 December 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25420/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 348 to 352, inclusive, together.
As stated in An Agreed Programme for Government, the Government is committed to the implementation of the recommendations of the taxi hardship panel. I have received the report of the taxi hardship panel and have submitted it to the Government for consideration of a range of issues relating to implementation of the panel recommendations including the financial costs involved. I am aware of the FAIR petition to the European Parliament arising from taxi liberalisation. It is my intention to publish the report of the taxi hardship panel once the Government has completed consideration of the report and approved its publication.
The total Exchequer cost of the taxi hardship panel to date is estimated at some €24,000, excluding the cost of the associated administrative support staff and newspaper advertising, the specific detail of which is not readily available.