As I said for me personally I would give up the Covid Coin in return for a 9 to 5 minimum wage job but thats just me .Not a lot of demand for overweight unfit old men .If there is extra customs checks after Brexit then there might be a bit more courier work from customs clearance depots .
I have the perfect job for ya John! Security Guard.. perfectly suited to semi incapacitated men over 50 .
Not a big effort to apply for the PSA Security Licence. Costs €240 to do the static guarding course. Loads of trainers running online courses every week.
Once you pass and you will pass cos there is no real test, just monkey see, monkey do. The training provider will give you a letter to confirm you have completed the training, send that to the PSA with your completed application and €90 fee.
Takes a couple of weeks to process as Garda vetting involved. You should have no issue there if you have a valid SPSV driver licence.
In the mean time apply to security companies and they can contact the PSA directly and get a cover letter which allows you to work while waiting for the badge to be issued.
The security company will need to check you employment history for last 5 years, not an issue just need your book keeper or letter from revenue or social to say you have been self employed for whatever period of time.
Depending on the security company and even within companies depending on the site the pay rate is €12 to €13 per hour. The better companies pay extra on Sundays and a set allowance for night shifts.
I did just that because I wasn't getting enough consistent work with the truck driving agency and even if I was the extra couple of euro per hour wasn't worth it with all the responsibility of driving a truck and other aggravation.
Now as I type this I am sitting in a nice comfortable office block, drinking tea, gazing at the cameras while being paid €160 gross for a 12 hour night shift. Rolling on a 3, 4, 3, 4 shifts over 4 weeks. It averages out at a 42 hour week and there is overtime available if I am flexible about moving around sites.
I will continue to keep the taxi for the time being and do it part time when things pickup next year.
Plenty of work out there and not as bad as minimum wage, plenty of hours if you want or need them. No aggravation involved, simply there for insurance reasons and a deterrent. They actually tell you not to get involved, be safe and call the guards.
Let me know if you decide to go down that road because I get free BoBo for referring somebody to the company.