asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will state (1) the number of road plates granted to lorry owners in the State in each year for the past ten years to the nearest available date, and (2) the same information for each separate county and county borough.
Written Answer. - Road Plates.
30.
Vehicle plates are issued to licensed hauliers by the Gárda authorities and I have no information as to the number of such plates issued.
If, however, the Deputy's intention was to ask about merchandise licences issued under the Road Transport Acts I would refer him, for full particulars, to the statutory register which is open to inspection in my Department. I may say, for the Deputy's information, that new licences have been issued in exceptional circumstances only and for special purposes. For example, in the last 10 years 102 new licences were granted of which 8 have since expired. Of the 94 new licences still valid 78 authorise the carriage of Sunday newspapers only, I authorises the local carriage of milk and I the local carriage of cream, I was issued to Co. Donegal Railways Joint Committee, 1 to the Veterinary College for animals, 1 to a fisherman's cooperative society for fish, three are confined to Valentia Island and 8 to Achill Island and the Corraun Peninsula.