asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that county councils have notified all lorry owners engaged in the haulage of turf that their lorries must be reweighed before being taxed on the 1st October next; that as creels have to be used in the haulage of turf, this will mean an increase of almost 15 per cent. in tax; and whether in view of the importance of the work involved he is prepared to issue an Emergency Order exempting the inclusion of creels in the unladen weight of all lorries engaged in the haulage of turf.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tax on Turf Lorries.
A licensing authority may at any time, either before or after the issue of a licence, require the owner of a vehicle licensed on the basis of unladen weight to furnish a certificate of weight in the prescribed form and may require the owner to produce the vehicle at a specified time at a specified weighbridge. The rates paid to lorry owners for turf haulage are based on figures which include full provision for the payment of motor licence duty quarterly at the existing rate for lorries fitted with creels. There are no grounds, therefore, for taking any action such as that suggested by the Deputy.