asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state (i) the comparative income from motor vehicle taxation in the financial years 1946-47, 1917-48 and 1948-49 (estimated); (ii) in respect of the years 1947-48 and 1948-49 the additional revenue derived from the increase in motor duties imposed in October, 1947; (iii) the anticipated income of the Road Fund in the year 1952-53 assuming the taxation basis remained the same if (a) the number of vehicles licensed increased at the average rate of the years 1923-39 inclusive, (b) 1945-48 inclusive, (c) 1937-39.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Motor Duties.
The figures for (i) and (ii) are: (i) 1946-47 £1,457,000, 1947-48 £2,000,000, 1948-49 £2,400,000; (ii) 1947-48 £200,000 (estimated), 1948-49 £300,000 (estimated). The figures asked for under (iii) are not available and could not be estimated on any reliable basis.
Would it not be possible to give an estimate even to the nearest £100,000? I understand that has already been done in connection with the future road plan, and, therefore, I think it should be possible to give an estimate such as I suggest.
I would like to remind the Deputy that any of the estimates that have been made were made on the basis that there would not be any departure from the type of motor transport there is at present. I think the Deputy will agree that any figures arrived at in the way he suggests would be purely speculative. I would also like to remind him that it would take a considerable amount of time to get out those figures.
In reply to the Parliamentary Secretary, I still consider that it would be most useful to county councils to obtain figures—making whatever assumptions it is necessary to make in regard to comparative types of vehicles—because it would give some indication to the county councils of the deficiency arising from motor vehicle taxation in relation to road expenditure.