As Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Tánaiste will be aware of the back-to-work enterprise allowance scheme. While it is not administered by his Department, it is an important safety net for many people setting up in business, coming off the live register. He will also be aware of the enormous shortage of taxis in our city at peak times. However, the back-to-work enterprise allowance is not available to people who are on the live register and who want to enter the taxi industry. This is just one example of how we are not taking in a long-term and strategic view of the future of the taxi industry which the National Transport Authority needs to do. We need a better deal for taxi drivers and we also need more taxis on our streets. I ask the Tánaiste to raise this with the Minister for Social Protection to see if we can encourage more people into the industry. There is still work to be done about a better deal for taxi drivers.

I will check that out. As the Deputy has acknowledged, the scheme is run by the Department of Social Protection under the Minister, Deputy Humphreys. I am not sure if there is a specific exclusion for taxi drivers or if it is a general exclusion relating to self-employment. It is definitely not that because I know of barbers who have availed of it and are self-employed. I will check it out. There may be a good reason for it, but maybe whatever the reason was is no longer valid. I will check it out and come back to the Deputy.