asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that Mr. Peter J. O'Malley, Bowgate Street, Ballinrobe, County Mayo, an ex-member of the Defence Forces, applied for a hackney licence with a full hackney allowance of petrol; and if he will state why this application was refused.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mayo Hackney Licence.
I am aware that Mr. Peter J. O'Malley, Bowgate Street, Ballinrobe, County Mayo, applied for and was refused a petrol allowance at the hackney rate.
The allowance of petrol at the rate fixed for hackneys to ex-Army personnel who did not own hackneys prior to enlistment is made only where they were discharged under the demobilisation scheme or on medical grounds. This concession has been made in order to provide men discharged under the demobilisation scheme with an opportunity of resettling themselves in civilian life. I do not recognise any similar obligation to facilitate men who retired voluntarily or were discharged on other than medical grounds before demobilisation. That is why the concession has not been applied to Mr. O'Malley.