asked the Minister for Supplies if it is his intention to grant essential service discs and motor spirit licences to farmers, market gardeners, fruit farmers and dairy farmers who have converted their private cars into goods-carrying vehicles and who previously used these vehicles solely for the conveyance of goods in connection with their occupation, in view of the fact that many such persons have contracts with hotels, restaurants, hospitals, etc.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Essential Service Discs for Farmers.
A close scrutiny is made of every application for petrol for use in a private car converted to a commercial goods vehicle. The issue of petrol is being confined to the owners of such vehicles who are engaged on essential work which includes the carriage of perishable foodstuffs. No discs are yet required for commercial goods vehicles of any description, but the extension of the use of such discs is being considered, and I cannot bind myself to state now how owners of the description mentioned in the question will be treated in the future.
asked the Minister for Supplies if he is aware that owners of tractors and threshing machines hitherto used their private cars extensively in connection with the transport of fuel, oil, spare parts, etc., for tractors and threshing machines; and if, during the present tillage drive and particularly in rural areas where there is no public transport, he is prepared to grant essential service discs and motor spirit allowances in the aforementioned cases, where he is satisfied that the applications are for no other purpose.
Owing to the restricted amount of petrol available for distribution, it has not been found possible for some time past to grant special allowances of petrol to owners of tractors and threshing machines who require the use of their private cars in connection with their agricultural business.
The petrol position has now deteriorated to such an extent that it will not be possible to grant permits and allowances of petrol in respect of such cars.