Mallon seeks further powers to open another financial assistance scheme for private bus and coach operators

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon is seeking further powers to open another financial assistance scheme for private bus and coach operators.

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon

The Minister has written to the First and deputy First Ministers seeking a further Determination & Designation under the Financial Assistance (Northern Ireland) Act 2009, to facilitate the development of a second financial assistance scheme for private bus and coach operators

Minister Mallon said:

“With the pandemic continuing to have a very real impact on lives and livelihoods and this not likely to change soon, private bus and coach operators like many others, are dealing with an extremely difficult situation. I am pleased to have already delivered support to many operators in the sector through my first support fund which opened before Christmas. My Department continues to work in partnership with the sector during this challenging time  

It is clear that the ongoing restrictions have had a direct and significant impact on the capacity of bus and coach industry to trade. The evidence presented to my Department has confirmed the ongoing impact on the sector since September and given that there is no evidence that the industry has recovered, there is a need for the development of a further bespoke financial support scheme to take account of their monthly standstill overheads for the period between 1 October 2020 and 31 March 2021.   

This is why I have written to the First and deputy First Minister seeking a further Determination & Designation under the Financial Assistance (Northern Ireland) Act 2009, to facilitate the development of a second financial assistance scheme for private bus and coach operators. I also intend to take a paper to the Executive seeking their approval to the scheme in the coming days. I will be engaging with the sector on the scheme and would intend it to launch in early March, subject to all the necessary approvals and regulations being in place.”

Notes to editors: 

1. On 3 November 2020, the Department for Infrastructure was granted new powers under the Financial Assistance Act (NI) 2009 to bring forward a financial support package for the private bus and coach sector. 
2. On 27 November 2020, the Department launched a Bus Operator Financial Assistance Scheme which closed on 18 December 2020.  The scheme was designed to provide some compensation for the financial losses incurred by private Coach and Bus operators as a result of the pandemic. The policy intent was that bus operators who demonstrated that, because of the pandemic, their turnover from 1 April to 30 September 2020 had decreased by more than 40% since the best of the same period in 2018 or 2019 and as a result had incurred a loss, would be eligible for a payment based on their financial standing requirements per bus or their actual loss if that was lower.
3. All media queries should be directed to the Department for Infrastructure Press at press.office@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk.
4. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for Media Enquiries Only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.
5. Follow the Department on Twitter @deptinfra and on Facebook @DepartmentforInfrastructure.

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