Jim Mitchell
Question:305 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport the number of applications for new licences under the Transport Act, 1986 which are outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Transport Licences.
You will appreciate that the number of applications on hands changes constantly. The position at week ended 16 February 1990 was that there were about 600 applications on hands. Of these, only about 200 are fully complete; there are outstanding deficiencies on the remainder.
The above backlog exists because of the large number of applications being received and the limitations on the staff resources available. In many cases delays are caused by the fact that the application forms, which are statutorily prescribed, are not completed in full or are not supported by the necessary back-up documentation.
My Department are making every effort to speed up the time taken to process a licence application; for example, only fully and properly completed applications are now being accepted. Additional staff has also been made available to the road haulage division since the beginning of the year.