The taxi hardship payment scheme has disbursed a total so far of €2.45 million to 204 people under the scheme established to assist those affected by the de-regulation of the taxi industry.
The Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan said a further 163 applications would be decided today. A further 657 applications were awaiting processing of which 80 per cent required more information or clarification, the Minister told Mr Seán Crowe (SF, Dublin South-West). The deadline for applications under the scheme is April 30th and an expert panel had advised that any scheme should not exceed 15 million.
Mr Crowe said the total value of taxi licences before deregulation was 400 million and the Government's payout was less than 4 per cent of that value, which a European parliament committee report had described as derisory.
Taxi drivers would continue to suffer extreme personal financial hardship, he said.