The Department for Infrastructure has made a Statutory Order entitled “The Bus Operator (Coronavirus, Financial Assistance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022” (S.R. 2022 No. 44), which comes into operation on 15th February 2022.

The First Minister and deputy First Minister, acting jointly, made a determination on 24th January 2022 that exceptional circumstances exist for licensed bus and coach operators, including financial hardship arising from the loss of business, as a consequence of the outbreak of Coronavirus.

These Regulations therefore provide for the setting up of a Scheme “the Bus Operator Financial Assistance Scheme 2022” under which the Department for Infrastructure may make financial assistance payments to eligible licensed bus and coach operators who have suffered because of the exceptional circumstances identified over the 1st April 2021 to 31st January 2022 period.

The Schedule to these Regulations sets out the detail of the Bus Operator Financial Assistance Scheme 2022.

Copies of the Rule may be purchased from the Stationery Office at www.tsoshop.co.uk or by contacting TSO Customer Services on 0333 202 5070 or viewed online at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr.