asked the Minister for Supplies if he can state (1) the number of additional permits to operate hackney motor vehicles that were issued during each of the 12 months of 1944, and (2) the basis on which these permits were allocated.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Permits for Hackney Motor Vehicles.
(1) The number of additional permits to operate hackney motor vehicles that were issued during each of the 12 months of 1944 was as follows:—
|
January, 1944 |
1 |
|
February, 1944 |
0 |
|
March, 1944 |
0 |
|
April, 1944 |
0 |
|
May, 1944 |
2 |
|
June, 1944 |
0 |
|
July, 1944 |
22 |
|
August, 1944 |
24 |
|
September, 1944 |
55 |
|
October, 1944 |
46 |
|
November, 1944 |
69 |
|
December, 1944 |
39 |
|
258 |
|
(2) The basis on which permits were allocated was:—(a) During the first six months of the year permits were granted only to persons normally engaged in the hackney business whose chief source of livelihood was derived therefrom, and then only on the basis of the number of vehicles which they had licensed as hackneys on the 1st of January, 1941. (b) From 1st July, 1944, onwards, applications were considered on the basis of (i) the normal pre-war transport facilities in the area in which the applicant resided and the existing transport facilities; (ii) the necessity for additional hackney facilities in the area; (iii) the personal circumstances of the applicant and his suitability for the operation of a hackney vehicle.
I may add that on a review of the whole position in December last I decided to discontinue the issue of permits for additional hackney vehicles.
Was any information made public regarding the change that was made in the last six months of the year in the basis of the allocation; was any advertisement published of change?
Yes, full publicity was given to the Department's policy in the matter.
By what means?
Statements in the newspapers.