£14m financial support scheme opens for taxi drivers | Latest Newry News, Newry Sport and Newry Business for Newry City

£14m financial support scheme opens for taxi drivers

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon has today opened a £14million financial support scheme for taxi drivers.

 

Coronavirus COVID-19 Northern Ireland - Support package to be brought forward for taxi, private bus and coach sectors - Newry taxis and buses, Newry newspaper

 

The bespoke scheme will provide a one-off payment of £1,500 to eligible taxi drivers, under the Taxi Driver (Coronavirus, Financial Assistance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 through the powers conferred by sections 1 and 3 of The Financial Assistance Act (Northern Ireland) 2009.

 

 

The following eligibility criteria will apply:

-were working or available for work as a self-employed taxi driver between 22 March 2020 and 30 September 2020;

-directly incurred overhead costs and expenses, which may include personal protective equipment expenses;

 

 

-had a valid taxi driver’s licence; and

-had valid taxi insurance covering driving for hire and reward.

The Minister said, “I have acted as quickly as possible once the powers were transferred to me to put in place a bespoke financial support scheme for taxi-drivers who have suffered a loss of trade throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. 

 

 

“The scheme opens today for two weeks until Friday 27 November to those taxi-drivers who meet the eligibility criteria.

“The one-off payment of £1,500 is a contribution to their yearly overhead costs and additional costs for PPE, given the difficult trading circumstances of the pandemic.

 

Copywriter Ireland - Paul Malone, Tall Paul Marketing, Freelance Belfast Copywriter - Tall Paul Marketing Blog Writer - Copywriter NI

 

“This is additional support to that which is available to self-employed drivers through the Self Employment Income Support Scheme, in recognition of the fact that they have not been able to earn as much income to cover the ongoing costs which they have still had to pay out. 

“Applications to the scheme will be processed as quickly as possible with payments planned to be made before Christmas. 

 

 

“I hope that this support along with the additional support of £1.2million which I put in place earlier in the year to waive vehicle licence fees, will enable taxi-drivers to continue working during these exceptionally difficult times,” she added.

 

Keep up to date with the latest Northern Ireland business news, marketing tips and tricks and advice for local businesses on the Tall Paul Marketing website.

 

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Posted by on Nov 13 2020. Filed under Community, Coronavirus, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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