asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will furnish the following particulars in respect of merchandise licences for haulage vehicles: (a) the number of such licences at present held by private owners operating in this country; (b) the number granted during the period 1932-1947 together with the names and addresses of the recipients and the areas for which granted, and (c) whether it is proposed to issue further licences to new applicants.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Licences for Haulage Vehicles.
There are at present 890 merchandise licences held by persons other than the public transport companies. One thousand four hundred and eighty-nine licences have been granted since the licensing requirements were introduced by the Road Transport Act, 1933. Practically all these licences were granted to existing hauliers. In view of the numbers involved, it would not be convenient to set out particulars of the names and addresses of all the licensees and their areas of operation. Particulars of all licences must be kept in a register. In accordance with the provisions of Section 29 of the Road Transport Act, 1933, this register is open to inspection at all reasonable times in my Department.
In reply to the last part of the question, I would refer the Deputy to a reply which I gave in Dáil Éireann on 14th April, when I indicated that the conditions governing the grant of merchandise licences are contained in Section 12 of the Road Transport Act, 1933, and Section 115 of the Transport Act, 1944.