More than €600,000 is to be paid out over the coming days to taxi licence holders who suffered hardship as a result of the deregulation of the industry.
The pace at which payments are being made, however, was criticised by a taxi drivers' union, which described the size of the payments as "derisory".
The 49 licence-holders sharing a total of €604,000 are the first to be compensated under the Government's hardship scheme.
People found to have suffered extreme personal financial hardship as a result of the opening-up of the taxi market three years ago can apply for payments of up to €15,000.
More than 400 claims have been received to date by Area Development Management Ltd, the consultants appointed by the Government to administer the scheme.
Announcing the initial pay-out yesterday, the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, said it was expected that further applications would be approved in early February.
The failure to make speedier payments has angered taxi union leaders, who consider the scheme to be inadequate in the first place.
Mr Tommy Gorman, president of the National Taxi Drivers' Union, said it was disappointing that only about 10 per cent of applications were receiving payments at this stage.
He claimed there was an element of public relations to the timing of the pay-out, just before Christmas.
"He [the minister] has picked a time when people would snap your hand off. We think these are very poor payments given what people have suffered, but of course we cannot tell people not to accept them," he said.
The 49 current recipients are receiving payments ranging from €3,000 to €15,000. About 40 will get €13,000 each, said Mr Brennan.
The pay-outs are based on the recommendations of the taxi hardship panel.
It was established by the Government after the market was liberalised and found that hardship was being experienced by some, including widows of taxi drivers, those aged 65 and over, drivers with no pensions, those with large loan repayments and those who had purchased wheelchair-accessible taxis.
The panel recommended that hardship payments be made to eligible taxi-licence holders, and estimated that the total claims should not exceed €15 million.
Mr Brennan said liberalising the industry had seen the number of taxis increased from 3,900 to more than 11,000 in less than three years. This had been hugely beneficial to consumers and had opened up career opportunities for thousands more to enter the sector.
"However, the Government was sensitive to the fact that as a result of liberalisation some people in the industry were left vulnerable and had suffered severe personal financial hardship.
"The process now under way is addressing the issue in a compassionate and sensitive manner."
The Minister said his proposals to transform the industry into a professional, safe and customer-friendly service were now well advanced, and further progress would be made next year.
Significant developments would include the establishment in early 2004 of the Commission for Taxi Regulation, which would be charged with introducing a new regulatory regime.
Hardship stories: case studies
Some cases currently being dealt with by the National Taxi Drivers' Union:
John from Raheny, Dublin - Has a €140,000 liability arising from purchase of a taxi licence in 1998. Was forced to sell his house after liberalisation and move to Dunleer, Co Louth, with his wife and three children. Drives to Dublin daily to work as a taxi driver. Expects to receive between €6,000 and €12,000 from the hardship fund.
Paul from Lucan, Co Dublin - Had combined home and taxi licence mortgage liability of €160,000 when market liberalised. Sold his home and moved to Bettystown, Co Meath. Expects to receive between €6,000 and €12,000.
Vincent, from Malahide, Co Dublin - Owed £100,000 in loan repayments for taxi licence when market deregulated. Developed heart condition and now unable to work. His wife, Caroline, forced to take up work as taxi driver at age 51. They expect to receive €13,000.