Taxi drivers could be waiting for post-deregulation payments

TAXI drivers do not expect to get post-deregulation hardship payments in the next few weeks.

Payments totalling €15m are to be made. More than 2,000 applications have been received.

An average of around €7,500 is to be paid out, an amount branded as derisory by taxi drivers’ representatives who claim some in the industry lost many times that amount following deregulation in late 2000.

The Government has indicated payments will start within the next few weeks, ahead of the publication of an interim report by the new, but still temporary, industry regulator.

But the National Taxi Drivers Union do not believe payments will be made so soon.

“As far as we are concerned, it’s not going to happen quickly,” a spokesman said. “Applications have been made but you are going to have to come up with some proof, you are going to be asked to show you bank statements, etc and that’s going to take some time. It’s not just a matter of putting in the application and then getting paid.”

The Government faces criticism from an influential European parliament committee over the deregulation of the industry and the amount of money set aside to alleviate hardship. The committee, due to publish its report by the end of this month, travelled to Ireland two weeks ago after a group representing the wives and widows of drivers sought their help.

Union members, in Brussels for a European transport forum, are likely to meet Transport Minister Seamus Brennan this week and raise ongoing concerns of drivers, including the timetable for regulation.

The interim regulator, Jimmy Farrelly, is to present his first report to the minister within the next few weeks. It’s proposed to introduce a compulsory training course for would-be drivers. He will also decide on a standard colour for taxis, an issue dismissed as irrelevant by drivers.

Mr Brennan has also been given assurances by Garda management that vetting procedures of potential drivers will be tightened. However, garda sources said there have been a number of cases where an application was turned down but the decision was overturned in the District Court.