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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 11 Feb 1960

Vol. 179 No. 2

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Road Merchandise Licences.

53.

asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will state the necessary data to be supplied by holders of merchandise licences who apply for an increase in the laden weight of their vehicles, and the factors taken into consideration in dealing with such applications.

The increase in standard lorry weight provided for by the Transport (No.2) Act, 1959, is granted on application. The only requirement is that the licence be submitted for the necessary amendment.

Where a licensee applies for an increase in standard lorry weight in excess of the increase provided for by the Transport (No.2) Act, 1959, he must submit a full statement of the purpose or purposes for which the extra weight is required, together with—

(a) The Registration Book;

(b) weight dockets showing (i) unladen weight of lorry without special attachments and (ii) with the heaviest attachment or combination of attachments which must be weighed for tax purposes.

The principal factors considered in dealing with the applications are the hardship involved for the applicant and the extent to which the additional weight would serve to increase his de facto carrying capacity. Any addition granted in excess of the 7 cwts. per lorry authorised by the 1959 Act would apply only so long as the attachments are actually used on the vehicle in accordance with the terms of the licence.

Would the Minister consider making a publication in the public Press as to what he has just read out about this increased weight? The Minister will agree that letters are going to and from the Department, from some individual applicants and some of the applications are not completed. The Minister writes back a letter for information. Would he consider some arrangement for a public notice summarising the requirements?

I shall consider that.

54.

asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will state the number of road merchandise licences originally assigned to each of the public transport companies then operating under the Transport Act, 1933, with the average unladen weight then assigned to each such licence, and the average unladen weight now applicable to this particular block of licences as at the 31st December, 1959.

55.

asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will state the number of road merchandise licences issued to private hauliers under the Road Transport Act, 1933, the then average unladen weight capacity in each case, the number of additional licences since issued to private hauliers up to 31st December, 1959, and the average unladen weight relating to such licences now in force, together with the number of such licences current on the 31st December, 1959.

56.

asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will state the total number of road merchandise licences issued to the then public transport companies under the Road Transport Act, 1933, which eventually passed into the custody of Córas Iompair Éireann and are now held by the Company, together with the number of new licences since issued to public transport companies which are now absorbed by the Company.

57.

asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will state the number of new licences issued since the passing of the Road Transport Act, 1933, to the 31st December, 1959, to (a) private operators and (b) the public transport companies now absorbed into Córas Iompair Éireann.

58.

asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will state the total number of road merchandise licences acquired by purchase from private hauliers by Córas Iompair Éireann, including its predecessors, during the period 1933 to 31st December, 1959.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Dáil Questions Nos. 54, 55, 56, 57 and 58 together and to circulate a statement giving the information sought in those questions.

Following is the statement:

1. Full information about all licences issued under the Road Transport Acts is contained in the Statutory Register of Merchandise Licences prescribed by Section 29 of the Road Transport Act, 1933 and which is open to inspection in my Department at all reasonable times.

2. The Road Transport Acts do not provide for the limitation of the unladen weight of vehicles operated by authorised (merchandise carrying) companies, i.e., statutory companies. The average weight of unladen vehicles operated by "existing carrier" licensees, i.e., private operators, in 1933 or at the present time could not be ascertained without considerable research. The standard lorry weight applicable to the bulk of licences in 1933 did not exceed 1 ton 15 cwts. The minimum standard lorry weight now applicable to these licences is 3 tons 2 cwts.

3. (1) Licences issued originally on enactment of 1933 Act:

(1) To existing carriers and shipping companies

1,360

(2) To statutory companies—

(a) absorbed since 1933 by C.I.E.

3

(b) others

3

(2) Licences issued to private operators (existing carriers) under Transport Act, 1944, in former exempted areas

65

(3) New licences issued, i.e., licences other than at (1) and (2):

234

(1) to private operators

169

(2) to statutory companies—

(a) absorbed since 1933 by C.I.E.

7

(b) others

3

4) In the case of the statutory companies, three such companies have been absorbed into C.I.E. since 1933, viz., the G.S.R., the G.N.R., and the Grand Canal Company; there are two such companies, viz., Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway Co., and the County Donegal Railways Joint Committee, which have not been so absorbed. The remaining public transport company—the Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway Co.—has ceased to operate. At no time did any of the statutory companies hold more than one licence; the "new" licences issued to these companies since 1933 were replacement licences. The licences absorbed by C.I.E. were allowed to lapse and C.I.E. now hold only one licence.

(5) The number of licences held by private hauliers in force on 31st November, 1959, was 960. The difference between that figure and the number of licences (1,360) issued following the enactment of the 1933 Act is accounted for by:—

(a) 386 licences acquired by the statutory companies of which 316 were acquired by C.I.E. and its predecessors;

(b) 248 licences expired or revoked and,

(c) 234 new licences issued since 1933.

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