asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state why the basic allowance of petrol was refused to truck owners for the current month.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Truck Owners' Petrol Supply.
Basic allowances of petrol are granted to all owners of commercial goods vehicles except those employed whole-time on the haulage of turf. These hauliers receive their full petrol requirements for the work on which they are engaged.
Any haulier not fully engaged on turf haulage will be granted a basic allowance of petrol on written application to the Department.
Is it a fact that hauliers who were entitled to the basic allowance have not got it? They were engaged part of the time on turf haulage.
Hauliers engaged on turf haulage receive no basic allowance. They receive petrol in respect of the amount of work they do on turf. Those not engaged on turf haulage, once they cease turf haulage, and engage in other business, which they are legally entitled to take, will receive the basic allowance on application. But they must apply.
I am speaking of lorry owners who are not getting the basic allowance, but who are engaged some of the time on turf haulage. Owing to some dispute they went off turf haulage, and the moment they did the basic allowance was denied them by the Department. Is that so?
That is not so. If they apply for the allowance they will get it.