asked the Minister for Justice whether a licence is required for the retail sale of motor spirit in tins and barrels; from what authority the licence is obtained; whether any fees are charged for such licences; how many such licences have been issued during the present year, whether he will state the total amount paid in fees therefor, and to what purpose such fees are devoted.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - MOTOR SPIRIT LICENCES.
Under the Petroleum Acts, 1871 and 1879, licences are required for the storage of petroleum. The authorities for granting licences in their respective areas are councils of county boroughs, urban district councils, Town Commissioners and harbour authorities in certain cases. In other areas licences are issued by the District Court. A fee of 5/- is chargeable in respect of licences issued otherwise than through the District Court. In the case of the District Court the fee is 10/-. The fees in the District Court are collected by stamps issued by the Revenue Commissioners and form part of the revenue reaching the Exchequer. The licence fees in other cases go to the general revenue of the local authorities concerned. I have no information as to the total amount received as fees from petroleum licences.