Protesting Taxi Drivers in Waterford City delivered a letter to Waterford Junior Minister Mary Butler's office this morning.
They are calling on the government to provide a financial package, as they feel they've been 'forgotten about' during the pandemic.
Four Waterford associations - the WTHA, WTD, ITC and AATD have joined together with the same objective.
Waterford City Taxi drivers making their way to the quay earlier today. #WLRNews #taxiprotest pic.twitter.com/9sfkmwDEB3
— WLR (@wlrfm) September 15, 2020
Kieran Brosnan from the Waterford Taxi and Hackney-Drivers' Association, explains why they don't currently qualify for government supports.
He said: "What has happened is since March since Covid came our industry has been decimated. Literally overnight we were stopped from working and we feel that nobody is looking out for us- we have no support.
"Grants that are available at the moment are not available to ourselves because we don't have a premises, because we don't pay rates and we don't have a VAT number.
"With taxing, you don't have a VAT number but you have to have one to avail of the grants." [That the government provided for other businesses]
Meanwhile in the capital, thousands of taxis are lining the streets around Dublin's Merrion Square.
Taxis from all over the country -including Dublin- have gathered in the capital to support the demonstration.
