asked the Taoiseach if he will state (a) the number and aggregate value of motor vehicles, and (b) the value of petrol and oils imported in the 12 months preceding the latest available date in 1953.

The number of road motor vehicles complete, imported in the 12 months ended 30th September, 1953, was 236 valued at £142,575. In the same period there were imported 19 road motor vehicle chassis with engines mounted valued at £9,709. It is not possible to state the number of motor vehicles equivalent to the imports of body and chassis aggregates, bodies assembled and parts imported, but their value was £5,551,648 in the 12 months in question. The value of the imports of petrol and mineral oils in the period was £11,771,160.

In fact, there is no motor car of any kind made within the country.