80657 (2024). Hon Carmel Sepuloni to the Minister for Social Development and Employment

80657 (2024). Hon Carmel Sepuloni to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: How many distinct individuals, if any, have accessed (Help to get a driver licence) since October 2023; what is the total budget expenditure, if anything, on this initiative since October 2023, listed against the original budget allocation?

Hon Louise Upston: The Ministry of Social Development (the Ministry) provides a range of assistance relating to drivers licensing through programmes and partnerships, and the Drivers License Grant. I am advised by the Ministry that as of October 2024, 22,530 participants have been supported by the Driver License Support programme since October 2023. The number of distinct clients who received the Drivers License Grant (hardship assistance) is provided in Table 2. I refer the Member to the attached tables: • Table 1 provides the actual expenditure and the Budget amount for Help to get a driver license • Table 2 provides the number of distinct clients who received the Drivers Licence Grant from 1 October 2023 to 30 November 2024.