TAXI drivers protested outside the constituency offices of infrastructure minister Nichola Mallon yesterday about access to a grant scheme amid fears for their livelihoods.
It was the first time the workers took to the streets and comes just days after it emerged thousands of drivers failed to apply for an emergency funding payment of £1,500.
More than 9,000 taxi drivers were eligible to apply but around 5,000 applications were received.
A driver taking part in yesterday's protest in north Belfast said there was an insurance loophole which prevented many for applying for the grant.
Value Cab driver Robert Doyle said he was "at the end of his tether" and dismissed the £1,500 payment, saying it went "nowhere near" covering his lost earnings.
"You need to make £450 a week to cover your depot rent, diesel and expenses before you can start earning any wages. I worked 70 to 80 hours over the last week and only made £400. How am I going to start paying bills?" he said.
"We don't want to be out here protesting but we feel no-one is listening. In the Republic, their drivers were getting 350 euro a week.
"We intend to take this further and lobby more politicians at Stormont."
On Wednesday, an assembly committee heard from five taxi operators seeking financial help for businesses.
Stephen Anton, from Fonacab, said there were a number of reasons why more taxi drivers did not apply for the grant.
Many had no access to computers to process the applications, he said, while others were unaware of the financial scheme, which opened for a fortnight last month when Ms Mallon announced that a £19m support fund for taxi drivers and private coach and bus operators was to be rolled out.
