asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the number of plate haulage licences at present issued to hauliers in the parliamentary electoral districts of (a) Cork North and (b) South Kerry.
- Plate Haulage Licences.
The number of merchandise licences current which are held by hauliers resident in the parliamentary electoral districts of Cork North and South Kerry are 53 and 11 respectively.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of the discrepancy there is as between the number of licensed hauliers in that area as compared with South Kerry, and if, in view of that fact, will he see that some adjustment will be made? Is he further aware that the county engineer in Kerry had occasion to employ hauliers from the North Cork area to work in South Kerry, due to the fact that the necessary number of licences were not issued to the people in the South Kerry district, and will he do justice in this matter to the people in that area?
The Deputy is probably aware that when the Road Transport Act of 1933 came into effect any person who established that he was engaged in the business of road transport for reward, and made application, was granted a merchandise licence as an existing carrier. At that date, the number of such licences granted in South Kerry was 13 of which 11 are still current. The corresponding number granted in North Cork was 71, of which 53 are still current.