asked the Taoiseach the percentage increase in the number of car owners in Ireland since 1973.

The available information refers to the number of vehicles in the taxation class "private car" under current licence on 30 September each year. A certain proportion of these cars is owned by business firms and some owners possess more than one car.

In the period 1973 to 1978 the number of private cars under current licence increased by 34 per cent.