asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state (a) the number of hackney permits issued by his Department (i) as at the 31st December, 1944, and (ii) as at the 31st December, 1945; (b) the number of hackney permits issued by his Department to ex-members of the Defence Forces from the 1st January, 1945, to the 31st December, 1945.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hackney Permits.
(a) The number of hackney permits issued by my Department (i) as at the 31st December, 1944, was 3,714; (ii) the permit system was abolished in November, 1945, but the number of hackney vehicles in respect of which petrol allowances were available as at 31st December, 1945, was 4,009. (b) The number of hackney allowances granted to ex-members of the Defence Forces during the period from 1st January, 1945, to 31st December, 1945, was 54. In addition, petrol allowances in respect of 41 new taxi vehicles were granted to such applicants. (c) In making any comparisons between the above figures, the Deputy should bear in mind that in December, 1944, a number of hackney permits were suspended for failure to observe regulations which have since been withdrawn, and some hackney vehicles were temporarily out of use because of inability to obtain equipment which may now be available.