€5.3m fuel aid reaches Balearics transport firms
Transport businesses and self-employed operators across Mallorca and the other Balearic Islands are starting to receive €5.3 million in fuel-cost aid this week. The money covers 550 awards under three schemes, as prices have risen amid the effects of the war in the Middle East. The Balearic Government's Department of Housing, Territory and Mobility announced the move.
Most of the money goes to freight transport. A total of 489 awards, worth €4.9 million, are earmarked for 265 self-employed operators and 224 companies. A further 61 awards, worth nearly €400,000, go to non-scheduled passenger transport by coach.
The Directorate General for Mobility published its third award proposal on Friday, covering freight transport companies. It follows proposals for self-employed freight operators and for coach businesses and self-employed operators.
Nearly €10 million set aside
The seven support schemes have a combined budget of €9.85 million for businesses and self-employed people operating trucks, buses, taxis and chauffeur-driven hire vehicles, known as VTCs, across the islands.
Of that total, €6 million is set aside to offset higher fuel prices in freight transport. Non-scheduled passenger services have €750,000 available, taxis €500,000 and VTCs €100,000. Another €2.5 million is reserved for scrapping transport vehicles, including trucks and buses.
1,440 applications received
The Directorate General for Mobility has received 1,440 applications across the schemes, covering 7,636 vehicles. Freight transport accounted for 595 applications from companies and self-employed operators, while the taxi sector submitted 553.
There were also 78 applications from firms carrying their own goods, 61 from non-scheduled coach transport, 122 for vehicle scrappage and 31 from VTC operators. Applications opened in July, while the deadline for scrapping heavy freight vehicles and passenger buses ran until Friday, 11 September.
Topics: Economy
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com