asked the Minister for Supplies if he will state the precise area in which transport is restricted in favour of the Great Southern Railways.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Great Southern Railways Company Transport.
Transport is not restricted in any area in favour of the Great Southern Railways. A scheme of transport based on the vehicles owned by the public transport companies, licensed hauliers, exempt area hauliers and a number of other essential classes of vehicle users, together with vehicles equipped with gas producer plant, has been organised and is in operation. The areas in which the organisation has been put into effect are County Mayo, County Galway, County Sligo, and portion of County Leitrim, north of a line running from Carrigallen to Dromod; part of County Longford west of a line joining Dromod, Longford town and Lanesboro'; parts of the Counties Westmeath, Offaly, Leix and Tipperary west of a line from Athlone to Tullamore to a point approximately three miles west of Mountmellick; thence to Clonaslee, Kinnity, Roscrea, Moneygall, Toomevara and Silvermines to the Shannon at a point approximately three miles north of Killaloe.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, will he say whether the transport arrangements that he has made in those areas are controlled by the railway company?
No. Deputy Hughes misunderstands the situation.
I should like to have a categorical answer from the Minister— either yes or no.
The railway company is the main operator of transport services.
Will the Minister answer either yes or no as to whom this system is controlled by?
It is controlled by me, as Minister.
And the railway company does not exercise any control over transport in those areas?
The railway company is the main transport operator in that part of Ireland.
Is that the position now?
That was the position always.
asked the Minister for Supplies if he will state the total number of road transport goods vehicles owned, hired or taken over by the Great Southern Railways on 1st September, 1943, and the number thereof that were fitted with gas producer plants at that date; and whether the Great Southern Railways have complied with the order to fit one in every three vehicles of their road transport goods fleet with gas producer plants.
The total number of road transport goods vehicles owned, hired or taken over by the Great Southern Railways on 1st September, 1943, was 633, which included 164 hired lorries. Fourteen vehicles owned by the Great Southern Railways were, on the date in question, fitted with gas producer plants. None of the vehicles hired had been so fitted. The Great Southern Railways have submitted a programme regarding the fitting of gas producer units to their vehicles which is in compliance with the requirements laid down by me. I have been informed that the majority of the units are practically completed and are being fitted as quickly as possible.
asked the Minister for Supplies if he will state (1) the number of private motor cars owned by the Great Southern Railways on 1st September, 1943, and by whom and for what purpose such vehicles are used; and (2) the number of private motor cars owned by the Great Southern Railways which have been equipped with gas producer plants.
I have no information as to the number of private motor cars owned by the Great Southern Railways on the 1st September, 1943. Permits allowing the use of 21 private motor cars by the company were in existence on that date. The vehicles were allowed for use by officials of the company in the general supervision of the company's road and rail services to ensure the maintenance of the services, and the utmost economy in the use of petrol, lubricating oil and tyres. Permits are not granted for the use of the vehicles by any particular individual official. None of the private motor vehicles operated by the company under permit from my Department has been fitted with a gas producer plant.
asked the Minister for Supplies if he will state (1) the amount of petrol allocated to the Great Southern Railways in each of the following months: January, 1942; September, 1942; January, April, July and September, 1943; (2) the amount of petrol allocated to the Great Southern Railways in the restricted schedule transport area in the month of July, 1943; and (3) the amount of petrol allocated to private lorry owners and licensed hauliers in the same area in the month of July, 1943.
The quantity of petrol allocated to the Great Southern Railways for all purposes in each of the months stated is as follows:— January, 1942, 205,956 gallons; September, 1942, 155,820 gallons; January, 1943, 131,008 gallons; April, 1943, 118,849 gallons; July, 1943, 118,404 gallons; September, 1943, 158,292 gallons.
The railways company receive bulk allowances of petrol each month in respect of their services and no specific quantity is allocated for particular areas.
The quantity of petrol allocated to private lorry owners and licensed hauliers, including exempt area hauliers, in the restricted transport area which consisted of County Mayo and West County Galway in the month of July, 1943, was 6,911 gallons.
Would the Minister inform us on what basis the petrol allocation is made?
The petrol allocation to whom?
To the Great Southern Railways. Is the allocation made on a vehicle basis?
No. However, it would take me a long time to answer that question, because the Great Southern Railways Company require petrol for a number of services. Petrol is allocated to them on the basis of their needs in relation to the total supply of petrol that is available.