asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that, in the controlled districts of the country, Córas Iompair Éireann levy a charge on lorry-owners, calculated at 7½ per cent. of the earnings of each individual lorry owner, in respect of lorries working under the company carrying traffic not the property of the lorry-owner, and at 4/- a day in respect of each lorry carrying traffic the property of the owner, the company holding that they are entitled to make these charges to compensate them for distributing petrol coupons to the lorry owners and keeping records of these coupons; and if, in view of the unreasonableness of these charges, he will direct Córas Iompair Éireann to cease collecting them forthwith.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Córas Iompair Éireann Lorry Levies.
The Emergency Powers (Mechanically Propelled Vehicles) (Scheduled Areas) Order, 1942, was revoked on November 12, 1945. There is now no restriction on individual lorry owners, who may carry their own goods in any district and are entitled to a petrol ration for this purpose.
Córas Iompair Éireann maintain a panel of hired lorries. The owners of these lorries undertake to operate under the control and direction of the company. They are paid in the case of certain continuous traffics on a fixed scale. In other cases, they are paid what the vehicle earns less a percentage deduction, from which the company meets the costs of administration, of collection of accounts and any other expenses.