On 17 December 2002 the Government approved the implementation on a phased basis of the recommendations of the taxi hardship panel in accordance with An Agreed Programme for Government. Any payments to be made as a result of this implementation will not represent compensation but rather compassionate payments in respect of extreme personal financial hardship arising from the liberalisation of the taxi market. The design and administration of a scheme to implement the recommendations of the panel will be carried out by the Office of the National Taxi Regulator as this will ensure that applications are dealt with on a confidential and objective basis.
The regulator, when appointed, will be in charge of the determination of criteria and conditions for the making of payments, having regard to the categorisation and specific recommendations identified in the report of the panel. The regulator will also invite applications and determine appropriate levels of payments within the amounts determined to be appropriate in the report. In pursuing this task, it is envisaged that the regulator will consult with relevant Government Departments and agencies.
Question No. 450 answered with Question No. 447.