To ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether she will seek further funding to assist taxi drivers as part of the January monitoring round.

As you are aware I recently bid for £25m and was allocated £19m to fund the private coach and bus scheme, and the taxi driver financial assistance scheme to assist with overheads including PPE and insurance costs which was launched on 13 November. £6m from the £25m bid is being held at the centre and it will provide me with some flexibility in keeping under review the circumstances of the sectors.

I continue to press for the inclusion of the taxi and private coach and bus sectors in the various other support schemes being taken forward across the Executive.