Free one year license extension for existing taxis and buses

Sinn Féin Foyle MLA Martina Anderson was responding after £1.4m was announced by Finance Minister Conor Murphy to cover statutory license fees for the bus and taxi industry to help ease the burden on bus companies and taxi owners and drivers.

The Foyle MLA said: “Bus operators and taxi drivers have been among the hardest hit as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and many have struggled financially.

“This funding will help address some of the concerns those in the sectors have had.”

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon has now confirmed that for the taxi industry, new regulations will be implemented which will extend the automatic renewal of taxi vehicle licences.

The Minister said that to keep this process straightforward for everyone, there will be no application process. The licences will be issued automatically, without prior test, and free of charge.

Vehicles which have already received an automatic six month licence, will receive a further six month licence. In addition, vehicles with a taxi licence that expires between October 10 2020 and March 9 2021 will receive a twelve month licence.

For the bus industry the issue of automatic twelve month licences, free of charge and without prior test, will also be extended. This extension will allow an automatic twelve month licence to issue to all vehicles with a licence expiry between March 10 2020 and March 9 2021.

Only taxi and bus vehicles that have been previously tested and issued with a licence will be eligible under the temporary arrangements.

Minister Mallon said: “I understand how difficult it has been for the bus and taxi industry in recent times and I have acted throughout the Covid crisis to provide regulatory easements to assist these important industries.

“I am pleased to provide further regulatory support to help ease some of the pressures they are facing.”