4.—(1) Subject to this section, the Minister shall, on application, issue to the holder of—

(a) a road freight carrier’s licence,

(b) a road passenger transport operator’s licence, or

(c) a Community licence,

a transport disc in respect of each vehicle to be operated under the licence.

(2) An application for a transport disc shall—

(a) be in such form and contain such information in respect of the applicant and the vehicle to which it relates as the Minister may from time to time determine, and

(b) be accompanied by the appropriate fee prescribed under section 7.

(3) Subject to subsections (4)(a) and (5), a transport disc—

(a) is valid for a period up to five years from the date in respect of which it is issued, and

(b) shall be made of such material, and shall be of such pattern and show thereon such information and markings as the Minister may from time to time determine.

(4) Where, on application to the Minister in such form and containing such information as the Minister may from time to time determine, accompanied by the appropriate fee prescribed under section 7, the Minister is satisfied that—

(a) a transport disc issued in respect of a vehicle has been lost or destroyed or is worn or defaced so as to be illegible, the Minister may issue a replacement transport disc to be valid for the remainder of the term of the transport disc that it replaces, or

(b) a vehicle in respect of which a transport disc has been issued is undergoing repairs, the Minister may issue a permit for use in a replacement vehicle during such period not exceeding 21 days as the permit indicates, and in such case the provisions of this Act apply to the replacement vehicle and the permit as if the permit were the transport disc for the vehicle.

(5) Where the holder of a licence adds a vehicle to that licence, the disc issued in respect of the vehicle added shall be valid only until the date of expiration of the licence.